- Title
- Efficacy of a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral intervention for eating disorder psychopathology delivered through a smartphone app: a randomized controlled trial
- Creator
- Linardon, Jake; Shatte, Adrian; Rosato, John; Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Matthew
- Date
- 2022
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/192115
- Identifier
- vital:17932
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291720003426
- Identifier
- ISSN:0033-2917
- Abstract
- Abstract Background Although effective treatments exist for diagnostic and subthreshold-level eating disorders (EDs), a significant proportion of affected individuals do not receive help. Interventions translated for delivery through smartphone apps may be one solution towards reducing this treatment gap. However, evidence for the efficacy of smartphones apps for EDs is lacking. We developed a smartphone app based on the principles and techniques of transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy for EDs and evaluated it through a pre-registered randomized controlled trial. Methods Symptomatic individuals (those who reported the presence of binge eating) were randomly assigned to the app ( n = 197) or waiting list ( n = 195). Of the total sample, 42 and 31% exhibited diagnostic-level bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder symptoms, respectively. Assessments took place at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks post-randomization. Analyses were intention-to-treat. The primary outcome was global levels of ED psychopathology. Secondary outcomes were other ED symptoms, impairment, and distress. Results Intervention participants reported greater reductions in global ED psychopathology than the control group at post-test ( d = −0.80). Significant effects were also observed for secondary outcomes ( d 's = −0.30 to −0.74), except compensatory behavior frequency. Symptom levels remained stable at follow-up. Participants were largely satisfied with the app, although the overall post-test attrition rate was 35%. Conclusion Findings highlight the potential for this app to serve as a cost-effective and easily accessible intervention for those who cannot receive standard treatment. The capacity for apps to be flexibly integrated within current models of mental health care delivery may prove vital for addressing the unmet needs of people with EDs.
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Relation
- Psychological Medicine Vol. 52, no. 9 (2022), p. 1679-1690
- Rights
- All metadata describing materials held in, or linked to, the repository is freely available under a CC0 licence
- Rights
- Copyright Cambridge
- Subject
- Attrition; Automation; Behavior; Binge eating; Bulimia; Bulimia nervosa; Clinical outcomes; Clinical trials; Cognition; Cognitive ability; Cognitive behavioral therapy; Cognitive-Behavioural factors; Compensation; Compensatory behaviour; Cost analysis; Digital intervention; Eating behavior; Eating disorders; Efficacy; Health care; Health care delivery; Intervention; Mental disorders; Mental health; Mental health care; Mental health services; Original Article; Psychological distress; Psychopathology; Randomized controlled trial; Self help; Smartphone app; Smartphones; Symptoms; Treatment methods; Unmet needs; 3202 Clinical sciences; 5202 Biological psychology; 5203 Clinical and health psychology
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