A pilot randomized controlled trial of a cognitive‐behavioral therapy guided self‐help mobile app for the post‐acute treatment of anorexia nervosa: A registered report

Abstract

Introduction: Relapse following acute treatment for anorexia nervosa (AN) is common. Evidence suggests cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may be useful in the post-acute period, but few patients have access to trained providers. mHealth technologies have potential to increase access to high-quality care for AN, including in the post-acute period. The aim of this study is to estimate the preliminary feasibility and effectiveness of a CBT-based mobile intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU), offered with and without an accompanying social networking feature.Method: In the current pilot randomized controlled trial, women with AN who have been discharged from acute treatment in the past 2 months (N = 90) will be randomly assigned to a CBT-based mobile intervention plus treatment as usual (TAU), a CBTbased mobile intervention including social networking plus TAU, or TAU alone. We will examine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the three conditions in terms of reducing eating disorder psychopathology, reducing frequency of eating disorder behaviors, achieving weight maintenance, reducing depression and suicidal ideation, and reducing clinical impairment. We will examine rehospitalization and full recovery rates in an exploratory fashion. We will also examine whether the mobile intervention and social networking feature change the proposed targets and whether changes in targets are associated with benefit, as well as conduct exploratory analyses to identify within-mobile intervention predictors and moderators of outcome.Discussion: Ultimately, this research may lead to increased access to evidence-based treatment for individuals with AN and prevention of the extreme negative consequences that can result from this serious disorder.Public Significance: Relapse after acute treatment for anorexia nervosa is common, and few patients have access to trained providers to support them following acute care. This study will pilot a coached mobile app, including a social networking component, for this population. If ultimately successful, our approach could greatly increase Dr. Fitzsimmons-Craft serves on the Clinical Advisory Board for Beanbag Health, receives royalties from UpToDate, and is a consultant for Kooth.

Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Interpersonal Sensitivity and Loneliness in Adult Women with Depression in Chalus

“…The study employs two psychotherapeutic interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (Ahmadi & Valizadeh, 2021;Asghari N et al, 2020;Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2023) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (Ahmadi & Valizadeh, 2021;Far et al, 2016), each structured into eight sessions lasting 60-75 minutes. These sessions are designed to address interpersonal sensitivity and loneliness in adult women with depression.…”

“…1 Introduction epression remains one of the most pervasive mental health challenges globally, affecting millions of individuals and imposing significant psychological and socio-economic burdens (Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2023;Scheer et al, 2023;Taheri et al, 2023;Xie et al, 2023;Ziapour et al, 2023). The World Health Organization identifies depression as a leading cause of disability worldwide, necessitating effective therapeutic interventions (Benjet et al, 2023;Ebrahimi et al, 2023;Ertezaee et al, 2023).…”

Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Schema Therapy on Communication Skills in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity

“…Experimental techniques, by changing painful memories of childhood, focus on altering mental images, physical sensations, and emotional feelings, and help ensure that recalling past bitter memories does not have a destructive effect on the individual. Since the emphasis of experimental techniques in improving communication skills in women affected by infidelity is on emotions, it seems that these techniques have not been able to help the individual become aware of their emotions and accept them, and with emotional reorganization, self-examination, and new learning, emotional regulation in interpersonal relationships, as well as self-soothing, create the conditions for improving schemas (Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2023;Lundström et al, 2022). In fact, experimental techniques such as the use of mental imagery have not been able to make the individual recognize the primary schemas and understand their developmental roots, relate them to their current life, improve patient understanding, move from rational cognition to emotional experience, and from cold cognition to hot cognition.…”

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Training and Acceptance and Commitment Training on High-Risk Behaviors in Self-Injurious Adolescents

“…CBT is also appropriate for those seeking short-term therapeutic options that do not necessarily require medication. One of the greatest advantages of CBT is helping patients develop adaptive skills useful both presently and in the future (Entezari et al, 2021;Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2023). Based on previous studies (Ahmadi & Valizadeh, 2021;As'hab et al, 2022;Babaee et al, 2022;Barnes et al, 2023;Entezari et al, 2021;Fitzsimmons-Craft et al, 2023;Hamidi et al, 2022;Hu et al, 2021;Jabraeili et al, 2014;Khandaghi Khameneh et al, 2023;Linehan, 1993;McEvoy et al, 2022;Nateghi & Sohrabi, 2017;Ofem, 2023;Rahimi et al, 2022;Roman et al, 2021;Rowland, 2010;Scheer et al, 2023;Spirito et al, 2011;Walser et al, 2015), it can be concluded that CBT and especially ACT, as new generations of psychological treatments, enhance psychological flexibility.…”