Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Anorexia

Overseen By Samantha L Turner, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 15

Duration: 6 months

283 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests if adding Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) to Family Based Treatment (FBT) helps adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) by making their thinking more flexible. The goal is to see if this combined approach improves treatment outcomes. Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) has been developed and tested for adolescents with anorexia nervosa to improve cognitive flexibility and holistic processing.

Research Team

Catherine Alix Timko, PhD

Principal Investigator

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adolescents aged 12-18 with Anorexia Nervosa who are stable enough for outpatient treatment and have no other major health issues. Parents or caregivers must be over 18, willing to participate, live with the adolescent, and provide medical clearance.

Inclusion Criteria

Fluent in English

Medical clearance from primary care physician and permission to speak to Primary Care Physician about clinical issues

Parent or caregiver willing to participate

Exclusion Criteria

I am a pregnant teenager.

I can use anti-psychotic medication during the later part of the study.

Presence of pervasive developmental disability, psychosis, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, autism spectrum disorder, or intellectual disability

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Family Based Treatment (FBT) with or without Adolescent-focused Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) over 15 sessions

6 months

15 sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in executive functioning, weight gain, and eating disorder symptomatology

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Cognitive Remediation Therapy
• Family Based Treatment

Trial Overview The study tests if Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) can improve 'set-shifting' (the ability to switch between tasks or thoughts) in teens with Anorexia Nervosa, potentially leading to better outcomes when combined with Family Based Treatment.

Participant Groups

Group I: FBT w/ Adolescent-focused Cognitive Remediation Therapy Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Family Based Treatment with Adolescent-focused Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT): Families will receive 15 sessions of FBT over six months. The first 9 sessions of FBT will be preceded by adolescent-focused CRT.

Group II: Family Based Treatment (FBT) Active Control 1 Intervention

Families will receive 15 sessions of FBT alone.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Lead Sponsor

Trials

749

Recruited

11,400,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+