Online Imaginal Exposure

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study evaluates if imaginal exposure therapy can decrease symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety, and test an online format of IE to maximize its ability to reach as many individuals with eating disorders as possible. All participants will complete four imaginal exposure sessions and will complete questionnaires prior to receiving this treatment, as well as complete follow up questionnaires at 1-month, 6-month, and 12-month.

Detailed Description
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Eating disorders (EDs) are tenacious mental disorders that are difficult to treat. EDs are often accompanied by anxiety disorders, which exacerbate the problem. Better ED treatments are imperative, and it is likely that targeting comorbid conditions, such as anxiety, will facilitate ED treatments. Imaginal exposure is used in anxiety disorders to face fears that are not accessible or practical to address via in-vivo exposures. For example, a patient with PTSD cannot re-experience her trauma in real life, but she can imagine the past trauma and experience the subsequent anxiety. For patients with AN, catastrophic outcomes such as abandonment or immediate fatness are similarly impossible to recreate as in-vivo exposures. Patients cannot become fat solely for the purpose of the exposure, but they can imagine what it would be like to become fat. The investigators are unaware of any literature using imaginal exposure therapy to induce fears of fatness and conducted a case study to test whether imaginal exposure could, firstly, induce fears of fatness and then promote reduction in anxiety and eating disorder symptoms. In this case study, the investigators found that imaginal exposure therapy was effective at reducing anxiety and eating disorder behaviors. Imaginal exposure therapy (IE) has been shown to be an extremely effective treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. IE has also been shown to be effective for the treatment of eating disorders using case studies. However, IE has not been systematically applied to the eating disorders. The purpose of this study is to test if 1) imaginal exposure therapy can decrease symptoms of eating disorders and anxiety, and 2) test an online format of IE to maximize its ability to reach as many individuals with eating disorders as possible.

Official Title
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Imaginal Exposure I Online Study

Conditions
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Eating Disorder, Exposure, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge-Eating Disorder, Therapy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Imaginal Exposure therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: At least 14 years of age (no age limit) Currently meet criteria for an eating disorder (using the eating disorder diagnostic scale), OR have met criteria for an eating disorder in the last year, OR endorse significant eating disorder fears At least one significant eating disorder related fear. Exclusion Criteria: Under 14 years of age Do not meet eating disorder related criteria Do not meet criteria for mania, psychosis, or suicidal ideation will be excluded.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: All participants will complete the same arm, which is four sessions of imaginal exposure across a one month time period. Each session is separated by 1 week.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Imaginal Exposure Session<br> | Behavioral: Imaginal Exposure therapy<br>* All participants will complete the same arm, which is four sessions of imaginal exposure across a one month time period. Each session is separated by 1 week.<br>* Other names: Exposure Therapy;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Eating disorder symptoms are assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire | The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ), a self-reported measure, is assessed at multiple time points throughout the duration of the study and is used to examine the attitudes and behaviors in individuals with eating disorder symptoms. | Up to 12 Months |