UCAN: Uniting Couples in the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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UCAN is a research program funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and is part of the UNC Eating Disorders Program. UCAN aims to help couples work together in the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Couples participate in UCAN over a period of six months and return for follow-up treatment three months after the end of the original six-month period. Patients receive weekly individual therapy, monthly psychiatry consultations, monthly dietary consultations in addition to being randomized to one of two types of weekly couples therapy. Participation in UCAN can help participants gain new confidence in facing anorexia as a team and can help us understand how best to involve partners in the treatment of eating disorders.

Detailed Description
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Patients receive comprehensive eating disorder treatment at the UNC Eating Disorders Outpatient Program in addition to couples therapy. Eligibility: Participants may be eligible if they are 18 or older, have anorexia nervosa and are currently living with a partner with whom they have been in a committed relationship for at least a year. The partner must also be willing to enter treatment.

Official Title
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Innovative Trial for the Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa in Late Adolescence and Adulthood

Conditions
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Anorexia Nervosa

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: CBCT
* Behavioral: Family Supportive Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Anorexia Nervosa, 18 years or older, BMI 16 or higher, In a committed relationship with a partner for 1 year or longer and currently living together. Exclusion Criteria: Alcohol or drug dependence in past year, Current significant suicidal ideation, Developmental disability that would impair the ability of the participant to benefit from the intervention, Psychosis, BMI less than 16.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 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
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy (CBCT)<br>CBCT is a 20-week program consisting of 1-hour sessions between a couple and a therapist. In this program, couples learn about ways to communicate about their relationship in the context of experiencing anorexia nervosa. CBCT focuses on couple-specific skills such as communication and targets relationship domains such as exercise, body image and sexuality, eating together as a couple, and broader relationship concerns outside of anorexia nervosa. | Behavioral: CBCT<br>* Cognitive Behavioral Couples Therapy - weekly manualized couples therapy<br>* Other names: UCAN;|
| Active Comparator: Family Supportive Therapy<br>Couples meet once a week for an hour for a period of 20 weeks for couples therapy. Family Supportive Therapy is not manualized and is the standard form of care at the UNC Eating Disorders Program | Behavioral: Family Supportive Therapy<br>* Couples meet once a week for an hour for a period of 20 weeks for couples therapy. Family Supportive Therapy is not manualized and is the standard form of care at the UNC Eating Disorders Program<br>* Other names: Eating Disorder Treatment as Usual;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Eating disorder behavior |  | 9 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Couple Satisfaction |  | 9 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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eating disorders, couples therapy