Social and economic cost of eating disorders in the United States: Evidence to inform policy action.
Jared Streatfeild, Josiah Hickson, S Bryn Austin...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33655603Actively Recruiting
Phase Not Applicable
Age: 13Years - 50Years
FEMALE
ID06332963
Interoceptive Mechanisms of Body Image Disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa
Led by Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc. · Updated on 2025-09-26
102
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
26 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research aims to understand how interoceptive processing, or the internal awareness of bodily signals, relates to disturbed body image in females with anorexia nervosa (AN). The study seeks to explore a new treatment approach for body image dissatisfaction, a key factor in AN that often leads to relapse. Researchers will test how modulating internal body awareness can impact body image disturbance and contribute to developing future therapies for AN. Participants will first receive a one-hour introduction session focused on acceptance and mindfulness skills. Then, they will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: Interoceptively Focused Treatment (IFT) or Exteroceptively Focused Treatment (EFT). The IFT group will practice mindfulness and acceptance skills while engaging in floatation-REST, a therapy that minimizes external sensory input to enhance internal body awareness. The EFT group will watch guided videos focused on mindfulness of external experiences. Each participant will complete three sessions in their assigned group following the introduction. Throughout the study, participants will complete self-report surveys, behavioral tests, and brain imaging scans to measure changes in body image disturbance and interoception. These assessments will occur before and after sessions, after the full intervention, and during follow-ups. The study will also monitor long-term effects on eating disorder symptoms and related body image outcomes. Participation includes various questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and functional MRI scans lasting several weeks.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Interoceptive Mechanisms of Body Image Disturbance in Anorexia Nervosa
Who Can Participate
Age: 13Years - 50Years
FEMALE
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Primary diagnosis of anorexia nervosa
- Photographic Figure Rating Scale body dissatisfaction score of 1 or higher
- Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Shape Concern score of 3 or higher
- Weight restored to a BMI of 17.5 or greater
- No current orthostatic hypotension or no additional fall risk as determined by provider
- Clinical status changed from acute to residential
- No new psychiatric medications in the week before randomization
- Female sex assigned at birth
- Age between 13 and 50 years
- Independently ambulatory
- Ability to lie flat comfortably
- Proficient in English
- Willing and able to participate in study procedures
- Provide informed consent (parent consent and minor assent if under 18)
You will not qualify if you...
- Active suicidal thoughts with plan and intent
- Engaging in active cutting or skin laceration behaviors
- Pregnancy as confirmed by urine test
- Acute intoxication shown by drug or alcohol tests
- Orthostatic hypotension with increased fall risk as determined by provider
- Seizure within the past 12 months
- Diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or other psychosis spectrum disorder
- Systolic blood pressure over 160 mmHg
- Diastolic blood pressure over 100 mmHg
- Resting heart rate less than 50 beats per minute
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
1
2
3
Your Study Journey
Screening
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Introduction Session
Duration - Approximately 1 hour
Participants attend a one-hour introduction session with a clinician to learn about acceptance- and mindfulness-based concepts with guided practice exercises.
1 visit (in-person)
Experimental Sessions
Duration - 3 sessions over 2 to 4 weeks
Participants undergo three sessions combining acceptance- and mindfulness-based skills with either floatation-REST (IFT group) or self-guided exteroceptive practice (EFT group) to modulate interoceptive and cognitive processing.
3 visits (in-person or guided practice sessions)
Post-intervention Follow-up
Duration - Up to 2 weeks
Participants complete behavioral, self-report, and neurobiological assessments to evaluate body image disturbance and interoceptive processing within two weeks after the final intervention session.
1 to 2 visits (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, 74136
Actively Recruiting
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Research Team
E
Emily M Choquette, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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Published Research Related To This Trial
Excess mortality of mental disorder.
E C Harris, B Barraclough
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9850203Mortality following hospital discharge with a diagnosis of eating disorder: national record linkage study, England, 2001-2009.
Uy Hoang, Michael Goldacre, Anthony James
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24599787What happens after treatment? A systematic review of relapse, remission, and recovery in anorexia nervosa.
Sahib S Khalsa, Larissa C Portnoff, Danyale McCurdy-McKinnon...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28630708Body image: past, present, and future.
Thomas F Cash
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18089136Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Dolores Elaine Battle
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24413388Postremission predictors of relapse in women with eating disorders.
Pamela K Keel, David J Dorer, Debra L Franko...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16330589Relapse in anorexia nervosa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Tamara Berends, Nynke Boonstra, Annemarie van Elburg
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30113325A prospective study of predictors of relapse in anorexia nervosa: implications for relapse prevention.
Jacqueline C Carter, Kimberley B Mercer-Lynn, Sarah Jane Norwood...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22657951Longitudinal trajectories of behavior change in a national sample of patients seeking eating-disorder treatment.
Danielle A N Chapa, Kelsey E Hagan, Kelsie T Forbush...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32275088