Compassionate Letter-Writing for Eating Disorders
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial tests a new approach to help individuals with eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. It focuses on compassion-focused therapy, where participants write self-compassionate letters for two weeks. The goal is to determine if this method can reduce feelings of shame and enhance recovery. Individuals on the waiting list for treatment at St. Joseph's Eating Disorder Program with a diagnosed eating disorder may be eligible to join. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative therapy methods before they become widely available.
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 prior data suggests that this self-compassionate letter-writing intervention is safe for patients with eating disorders?
Research has shown that writing letters to oneself with kindness is generally safe for people with eating disorders. In past studies, participants who engaged in this two-week activity found it manageable and free of harmful effects. The activity aims to reduce feelings of shame and boost motivation for treatment by encouraging self-kindness. No major negative effects have been reported, making this a gentle and approachable option for those seeking to support their recovery journey.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Most treatments for eating disorders focus on therapy, medication, and nutritional counseling. However, the self-compassionate letter-writing intervention offers a fresh approach by encouraging individuals to engage in daily online exercises where they write compassionate letters to themselves. This method is unique because it promotes self-kindness and reflection, potentially addressing the emotional roots of eating disorders. Researchers are excited about this intervention as it provides a non-invasive, easily accessible tool that individuals can integrate into their daily lives, offering a promising complement to traditional treatments.
What evidence suggests that this self-compassionate letter-writing intervention is effective for eating disorders?
Research shows that writing kind and understanding letters to oneself can help people with eating disorders. In this trial, some participants will engage in a self-compassionate letter-writing intervention, completing an online task once per day for two weeks. Studies have found that participants who wrote these letters felt less shame than those who did not. Other research has discovered a link between self-kindness and fewer symptoms of eating disorders. Writing these letters can also reduce feelings of shame, a significant aspect of eating disorders. These findings suggest that writing to oneself with kindness might ease the management of eating disorders.36789
Who Is on the Research Team?
Allison Kelly, PhD
Principal Investigator
University of Waterloo
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
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
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants engage in a two-week daily letter-writing intervention or a control condition
Group Treatment
Participants undergo a 25-week group treatment program for eating disorders
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in eating disorder symptoms and self-compassion
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
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.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
An online self-compassionate letter-writing task once per day (10-20 minutes each) for 2 weeks
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
University of Waterloo
Lead Sponsor
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Collaborator
Citations
The efficacy of compassion focused therapy in eating disorders
... compassion significantly decreased following a self-directed compassionate letter writing intervention compared to WLC. BED Four studies ...
The efficacy of compassion focused therapy in eating disorders
... compassion significantly decreased following a self-directed compassionate letter writing intervention compared to WLC. BED Four studies ...
Self-compassion and clinical eating disorder symptoms
Higher self-compassion was associated with lower eating disorder symptoms. There was some evidence for the efficacy of self-compassion interventions in ...
A Brief Self-Compassionate Letter-Writing Intervention for ...
This study examined the efficacy of self-compassionate letter-writing as a stand-alone intervention for undergraduate students with high shame.
Compassionate Letter-Writing for Eating Disorders
This trial tests if writing self-compassionate letters can help patients with eating disorders feel less shame and be kinder to themselves.
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A feasibility study of a 2-week self-compassionate letter ...
... compassionate letter-writing intervention for nontreatment seeking individuals with typical and atypical anorexia nervosa. Int J Eat Disord ...
A feasibility study of a 2‐week self‐compassionate letter‐ ...
This study sought to determine whether a brief intervention designed to foster self-compassion would reduce shame and increase treatment motivation among ...
A feasibility study of a 2-week self-compassionate letter ...
Objective Most individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) do not seek treatment and shame is a common barrier. This study sought to determine whether a brief ...
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