Harnessing the power of technology for the treatment and prevention of eating disorders

Abstract

This review suggests that technology-enhanced interventions offer multiple opportunities to improve care for eating disorders. More research is needed on the efficacy, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and reach of these approaches to ultimately estimate their public health impact. It is discussed to what extent innovative models of care integrating technology-enhanced interventions and face-to-face interventions may improve service delivery for eating disorders.

The dissemination and implementation of psychological treatments: Problems and solutions

“…To address such questions rigorous research is needed. 42 Any tendency to employ minimal methodological rigor to evaluate minimal programs must be resisted. 43 These interventions need to be evaluated to the same standard as any other treatment.…”

Relapse Prevention via Videoconference for Anorexia Nervosa - Findings from the RESTART Pilot Study

“…The intervention proved to be safe even for AN patients with a long-standing illness and may have beneficial effects with respect to maintenance of change and further improvement of symptoms. The study underlines the potential of videoconferencing as an innovative dissemination strategy in bridging the gap between inpatient and outpatient treatment for eating disorders [8]. It has to be taken into account that this novel approach entails costs for equipment and programmes complying with privacy legislation which might pose a barrier to access.…”

“…Hence, a strong need for innovative intervention strategies to ensure postinpatient continuity of care and to prevent relapse in AN has been emphasized [2,3,5,6,7]. Technology-enhanced interventions have the potential for targeting poor continuity of care, through bridging different therapy settings, improving access to evidence-based treatments and shortening waiting times [8]. In the present phase II pilot study, we used videoconferencing as a tool for delivering a relapse prevention intervention in AN.…”

Dissemination in the internet age: Taming a wild thing

“…What are the potential difficulties of these technologies that we may need to understand and negotiate both to make the possibility of widespread dissemination of effective treatments reality and to reduce the needs for treatment? The authors of the previous reviews 1,2 have raised a number of crucial points in relation to these questions. I would like to expand on their observations in two broad areas: first, by considering the importance of extending focus beyond the individual into the population and public policy and public health domains and; second, by greater exploration, understanding, and management of the potentially problematic aspects of internet intervention delivery and the internet environment in relation to eating disorders.…”

“…As identified in the comprehensive reviews by Bauer and Moessner 1 and Fairburn and Wilson, 2 interventions are gaining more and more traction across the spectrum of prevention, early intervention and treatment of eating disorders. Enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders is proving particularly versatile in treating the diverse range of eating disorders found in community settings.…”