Compassionate Letter-Writing for Eating Disorders

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Waterloo

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

160 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests if writing self-compassionate letters can help patients with eating disorders feel less shame and be kinder to themselves. Participants will write these letters for a short period before starting their regular treatment. This approach aims to build self-compassion and reduce shame, which are believed to contribute to the maintenance and alleviation of eating disorders.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on a letter-writing intervention, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

What data supports the effectiveness of the self-compassionate letter-writing treatment for eating disorders?

Research shows that increasing self-compassion and reducing shame can lead to faster improvement in eating disorder symptoms. Studies on compassion-focused therapy, which includes self-compassion practices, have shown it to be effective in reducing eating disorder symptoms and improving psychological well-being. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is compassionate letter-writing safe for people with eating disorders?

Research on compassionate interventions, like compassionate letter-writing, shows they are generally safe and well-tolerated. Participants in studies often report positive experiences, and there are no significant safety concerns mentioned. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

How does compassionate letter-writing differ from other treatments for eating disorders?

Compassionate letter-writing is unique because it focuses on enhancing self-compassion, which has been shown to protect against negative body image and eating behaviors. Unlike traditional treatments that may focus on behavior modification, this approach encourages individuals to treat themselves with kindness and understanding, similar to how they would treat a loved friend. ^{7 8 9 10 11}

Research Team

Allison Kelly, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Waterloo

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals aged 17 or older who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder and are on the waitlist for group treatment at St. Joseph's Eating Disorder Program.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating).

I am 17 years old or older.

You are able to participate in the St. Joseph's Eating Disorder Program for group treatment.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in a two-week daily letter-writing intervention or a control condition

2 weeks

Online questionnaires at baseline, after 1 week, and after 2 weeks

Group Treatment

Participants undergo a 25-week group treatment program for eating disorders

25 weeks

Questionnaires after 5 weeks, 11 weeks, and post-treatment

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in eating disorder symptoms and self-compassion

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Self-compassionate letter-writing intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a two-week self-compassionate letter-writing intervention based on compassion-focused therapy (CFT) against a control group to see if it can help patients with eating disorders before they start their scheduled treatments.

Participant Groups

Group I: Self-compassionate letter-writing intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

An online self-compassionate letter-writing task once per day (10-20 minutes each) for 2 weeks

Group II: Control condition Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Waterloo

Lead Sponsor

Trials

132

Recruited

221,000+

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Collaborator

Trials

203

Recruited

26,900+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Are improvements in shame and self-compassion early in eating disorders treatment associated with better patient outcomes? [2018]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Group-Based Compassion-Focused Therapy as an Adjunct to Outpatient Treatment for Eating Disorders: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2017]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compassionate Attention and Regulation of Eating Behaviour: A pilot study of a brief low-intensity intervention for binge eating. [2018]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-compassion training for binge eating disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-compassion and fear of self-compassion interact to predict response to eating disorders treatment: a preliminary investigation. [2015]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development and application of compassion-focused therapy for eating disorders (CFT-E). [2018]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of online self-compassionate writing on stigmatizing and affirming self-perceptions: Potential boundary conditions in undergraduate women. [2023]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protection versus risk? The relative roles of compassionate and uncompassionate self-responding for eating disorder behaviors. [2022]

9. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-compassion, body image, and disordered eating: A review of the literature. [2018]

10. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring the paths between self-compassionate attributes and actions, body compassion and disordered eating. [2021]

11. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Determining the potential link of self-compassion with eating pathology and body image among women: a longitudinal mediational study. [2022]