It is often difficult for people with eating disorders to get timely access to specialized treatment, as waitlists can be long. The present study examines whether or not providing educational materials by email could help individuals with eating disorders while they wait for specialized care. The investigators hypothesize that a low-intensity self-guided intervention will lead to a reduction in eating-disorder attitudes and cognitions, and an increase in motivation to change and body satisfaction. Sixty-two adults (primarily women) are randomly assigned to one of two groups while being on the waitlist for specialized eating-disorder services. One group receives weekly emails for four weeks with psychoeducational materials about eating disorders; the other group does not receive any materials. The content was adapted from a validated eating-disorder workbook developed by the Centre for Clinical Interventions in Australia and translated into French. Each week, as well as one week after the intervention period, all participants complete brief questionnaires assessing eating-disorder thoughts, body satisfaction, and readiness to make changes in eating behaviours. Participants who receive the materials also rate their level of satisfaction with the materials as well as how useful and engaging they find the content.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
78
Receives weekly psychoeducation related to eating disorders via email, while on the waitlist for treatment \[experimental condition\].
Does not receive any psychoeducational materials, while on the waitlist for treatment \[control condition\].
Douglas Mental Health University Instititute
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Eating Disorder-15
10 items that assess eating-disorder symptoms, each rated on a 7-point Likert frequency scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 7 (all the time). A higher score means more symptoms.
Time frame: Weekly, from enrollment to the end of the study at week 5 (week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
Body Satisfaction Scale
State-related changes in body satisfaction are assessed using the Body Dissatisfaction subscale of the Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS). The subscale asks participants to indicate their level of satisfaction with seven body parts (e.g., chest, tummy, legs, etc.) at the time of questionnaire completion on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = very satisfied to 7 = very unsatisfied). A higher score means more symptoms.
Time frame: Weekly, from enrollment until the last time the materials were offered (week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4).
Readiness Ruler
The readiness ruler is an 18-item questionnaire, aimed at measuring state-related motivation. The readiness ruler measures readiness to change across nine eating-disorder related attitudes (restriction, weight-shape overevaluation, binge eating, vomiting, laxative use, fasting, diuretic use, weight-gain phobia, and exercise) on a scale from 1 to 10. A higher score means more readiness to make changes.
Time frame: Weekly, from enrollment until the last time the materials were offered (week 0, 1, 2, 3, 4).
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire
Questionnaire measuring global eating-disorder severity. The questionnaire is being used to assess severity. The responses on the EDE-Q are also used to corroborate the provisional eating-disorder diagnosis at baseline. The questionnaire asks about symptoms the past 28 days and a higher score means more symptoms. The scores on each item ranges from 0 to 6. 0 = no days; 1 = 1-5 days; 2 = 6-12 days; 3 = 13-15 days; 4 = 16-22 days; 5 = 23-27 days; 6 = 28 days.
Time frame: Weekly, from enrollment to the end of the study at week 5
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