Exposure-Based CBT for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake in Functional Dyspepsia

NCT ID: NCT05587127

Last Updated: 2025-09-25

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-11-30

Study Completion Date

2027-05-31

Brief Summary

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Randomized controlled trial of an exposure-based behavioral treatment (CBT) in adults with functional dyspepsia who meet criteria for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) with weight loss.

Detailed Description

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The purpose of this study is to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) compared to usual care as the control with adults with functional dyspepsia who also meet criteria for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Participants randomized into the CBT group will receive eight 1-hour sessions delivered weekly via the MGH-approved secure video platform Enterprise Zoom while the usual care group will be allowed to continue with treatment they are already receiving at the time of randomization. Participants in the usual care group will be offered CBT after study participation. We will determine the feasibility and acceptability of the CBT and explore changes in clinical outcomes and preliminary mechanisms.

Conditions

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Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Dyspepsia Feeding and Eating Disorders Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Appetite Regulation Functional Dyspepsia Post-prandial Distress Syndrome Behavioral Medicine

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Subjects will receive cognitive behavioral therapy for functional dyspepsia with avoidant restrictive food intake disorder.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eight 1-hour sessions delivered weekly via the MGH-approved secure video platform Enterprise Zoom. Skills include: education about gut-brain regulation and weight loss, and regularizing eating to improve hunger and satiety cues; techniques to facilitate weight gain with targets of increased food volume and variety; and plan for maintenance of treatment gains.

Usual Care

In the usual care condition, participants will be allowed to continue with treatment they are already receiving at the time of randomization, and we will collect detailed data on the nature of these interventions. Participants will be allowed to pursue non study treatments in this condition.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Eight 1-hour sessions delivered weekly via the MGH-approved secure video platform Enterprise Zoom. Skills include: education about gut-brain regulation and weight loss, and regularizing eating to improve hunger and satiety cues; techniques to facilitate weight gain with targets of increased food volume and variety; and plan for maintenance of treatment gains.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Age at least 18 years at screening visit
* Rome IV Functional Dyspepsia post-prandial distress type (with or without epigastric pain syndrome)
* Negative upper endoscopy or upper radiographic GI series to rule out structural/organic cause for FD
* Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) diagnosis (by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5; SCID-5 at Screening visit)
* ≥5% weight loss from weight after functional dyspepsia symptom onset (at Screening visit)
* Stable for outpatient care (based on the American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Eating Disorders)
* No previous history of CBT for functional dyspepsia or ARFID
* Computer/internet webcam access
* Fluency in English
* Stable dose for 30 days if on any medication

Exclusion Criteria

* Inability to provide informed consent
* Presence of other conditions that could explain the patient's symptoms by chart:

Pyloric or intestinal obstruction (by EGD, UGI, or Abdominal CT) Active H.pylori infection (by CLO test or stool antigen test) Active inflammatory bowel disease Eosinophilic gastroenteritis or eosinophilic esophagitis Acute renal failure Chronic renal failure (serum creatinine \>3 mg/dL) and/or on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis Acute liver failure Any acute gastrointestinal process Any plausible structural or metabolic causes Heartburn as predominant symptom History of peptic ulcer

* Symptom resolution with antisecretory therapy (PPI use for other reasons that did not resolve FD symptoms will be allowed)
* History of gastrointestinal tract surgery (including gastrectomy, gastric bypass surgery, and small or large bowel resection)
* History of any serious medical condition (e.g., cancer)
* Use of narcotic analgesics greater than three days per week
* Current pregnancy or breastfeeding within the last 8 weeks
* Uncontrolled diabetes (indicated by HbA1c ≥7%) by chart
* Intellectual disability by history
* Current substance/alcohol use disorder within the past month
* Current/history of psychosis (by Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Screen)
* Current mania (by Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Screen) (defined as any manic episodes within the past 12 months)
* Active suicidal ideation (by MINI-Screen)
* Psychiatric disorder that would warrant independent attention (by Mini-International - Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-Screen))
* Current enteral or parenteral feeding
* Plans to initiate another psychotherapy or pregnancy in the concurrent study period
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Helen B. Murray, PHD

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Helen Burton Murray, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital

Locations

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Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Blythe Peterson, BS

Role: CONTACT

617-643-7884

Facility Contacts

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Helen Burton Murray, PhD

Role: primary

617-643-7884

Blythe Peterson, BS

Role: backup

617-643-7884

Other Identifiers

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K23DK131334-01

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

2022P001765

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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