Actively Recruiting
Neuroscience-informed Treatment to Remotely Target Reward Mechanisms in Post-acute Anorexia Nervosa
Led by Virginia Commonwealth University · Updated on 2025-09-05
90
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
151 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
Virginia Commonwealth University
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The investigators will recruit individuals with broadly-defined AN (n = 80) who are currently in or have recently participated in higher-level eating disorder treatment (e.g., residential, partial hospitalization/day treatment, intensive outpatient treatment). Interested participants will sign consent, complete eligibility assessments, and will be randomized to receive Positive Affect Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa (PAT-AN) or Psychoeducation and Behavioral Therapy (PBT) through teletherapy shortly following discharge from higher level of care. Participants can participate in most other forms of outpatient treatment while receiving the research intervention. Participants will engage in 24 weeks of PAT-AN or PBT starting in the first 3 months post-discharge. At each session, the investigators will complete brief measures assessing treatment acceptability, affect, and eating disorder symptoms. Participants will also complete an assessment battery of self-report, EMA, and neurocognitive measures evaluating primary outcomes (BMI; eating disorder symptoms), secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, and suicidality), and presumed treatment mechanisms at baseline, end of treatment (EOT), and 3-month follow-up (FU). All assessments will be remotely delivered via HIPAA-compliant platforms.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Neuroscience-informed Treatment to Remotely Target Reward Mechanisms in Post-acute Anorexia Nervosa
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 18 years or older
- Ability to read and speak English
- DSM-5 diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa or atypical Anorexia Nervosa at admission to higher-level care
- Currently in higher-level care discharging to outpatient care or discharged within past 3 months
- Current BMI of 18.5 kg/m2 or higher (or will be by discharge)
- BMI increase of 0.5 kg/m2 or higher while in higher-level care
- Ability to designate and sign release of information for primary physical or mental health provider
- Willingness to participate in weekly assessments and audio or video recording of therapy sessions
- Access to a smartphone and/or computer for remote therapy and assessment
You will not qualify if you...
- Medical instability for outpatient care
- Pregnancy
- Lifetime DSM-5 primary psychotic or bipolar-I disorder
- Current DSM-5 substance use disorder
- Enrollment in outpatient therapy with content highly overlapping with PAT-AN
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kira Venables
CONTACT
A
Ann Haynos, PhD
CONTACT
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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