Guided Self Help for Anorexia Nervosa

(GSHimplement Trial)

Overseen By Jennifer Couturier, MSc, MD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: McMaster University

Disqualifiers: Hospitalization, Drug dependence, Pregnancy, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 10 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a virtual program called Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy (GSH FBT) to assist families in managing anorexia nervosa in adolescents. The researchers aim to determine if this program can reduce treatment wait times and improve symptoms in young people. The trial targets families with a child diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who have access to a computer and the internet. Participants will use online resources and tools to empower and support their child's recovery. As an unphased trial, this study provides families with a unique opportunity to access innovative support tools that could enhance their child's recovery journey.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy is safe for adolescents with anorexia nervosa?

Research has shown that Guided Self Help Family Based Therapy (GSH FBT) is generally well-received by families managing adolescent anorexia nervosa. Studies suggest that GSH FBT can be as effective as traditional therapist-led Family Based Therapy, potentially offering similar benefits without many side effects.

No serious negative side effects have been reported specifically for GSH FBT. Since it involves parents assisting their children with structured guidance and resources, the risk of physical harm remains low. The treatment empowers parents to support their children, which can help reduce the stress of waiting for more traditional therapy.

Overall, GSH FBT appears safe for families to try, especially if they need quicker access to support. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Guided Self Help Family Based Therapy (GSH FBT) is unique because it empowers parents by providing them with practical tools and resources to support their child with anorexia nervosa at home. Unlike traditional therapy which often involves in-person sessions with a therapist, this approach includes pre-recorded video guidance and a comprehensive manual to help parents actively participate in their child's recovery. Researchers are excited about this method because it makes treatment more accessible and allows for intervention in the comfort of the home, potentially leading to earlier and more consistent support for the affected individual.

What evidence suggests that Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy is effective for anorexia nervosa?

Studies have shown that Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy (GSH FBT), which participants in this trial will receive, can effectively treat anorexia nervosa in teenagers. One study found that GSH FBT works as well as traditional family therapy led by a therapist. Research indicates that when parents participate in treatment, teens gain weight more quickly. This method empowers parents to aid their child's recovery, which has proven beneficial. Overall, family therapy, including guided self-help, is more effective than individual therapy for anorexia nervosa. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young individuals in Canada with anorexia nervosa or other eating disorders. It's designed to help those facing long wait times for treatment by testing a virtual parent-led therapy called Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy (GSH FBT).

Inclusion Criteria

Access to computer and internet connection

Capacity to speak, write, and understand English

My family has a teenager diagnosed with Anorexia nervosa.

Exclusion Criteria

Adolescent has a current physical condition known to influence weight or eating (pregnancy, diabetes mellitus)

My body weight is expected to be less than 75% of the ideal for my age.

Does not have the capacity to speak, write, and understand English

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy (GSH FBT) for eating disorders, involving pre-recorded videos, an electric scale, and a therapy manual

10 weeks

Virtual sessions with therapist 'coach'

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in eating disorder symptoms, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and parental self-efficacy

14 weeks

Implementation Evaluation

Evaluation of implementation success, including fidelity assessments and qualitative measures of experiences from families and providers

Throughout the trial

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Guided Self Help Family Based Therapy (GSH FBT)

Trial Overview The study tests the effectiveness of GSH FBT, a virtual therapy led by parents to treat adolescents with eating disorders. The goal is to see if this method can reduce waiting periods and improve symptoms more efficiently.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Parents who have a child with anorexia nervosa Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Each participant will receive a series of pre-recorded videos, an electric scale, and a therapy manual ("Help Your Teen Beat an Eating Disorder"). This will include content on empowering parents to renourish their child and interrupt binge/purge behaviors.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

McMaster University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

936

Recruited

2,630,000+

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The online guided self-help family-based treatment (GSH-FBT) for families waiting for face-to-face treatment showed promising results, with participating children gaining an average of 6 kg and experiencing a significant decrease in eating disorder behaviors.

Parents reported enhanced knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their child's anorexia nervosa, indicating that GSH-FBT can be a valuable interim support, although strategies to improve initial recruitment are necessary.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is guided self-help family-based treatment for parents of adolescents with anorexia nervosa on treatment waitlists feasible? A pilot trial. Wade, T., Byrne, S., Fursland, A., et al.[2022]

A parental guided self-help version of family-based treatment (FBT) for adolescent anorexia nervosa was found to be feasible and acceptable, with 19 families participating in the study over 6 months.

Participants showed significant improvements in weight, with median BMI increasing from 85.01% to 97.31%, and reductions in eating-related psychopathology, indicating potential effectiveness of this self-help approach, although further evaluation is needed due to a high dropout rate.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Parental guided self-help family based treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa: A feasibility study. Lock, J., Darcy, A., Fitzpatrick, KK., et al.[2018]

A pilot study involving 40 adolescents with anorexia nervosa showed that both the online guided self-help program for parents (GSH-FBT) and videoconferencing family-based treatment (FBT-V) were similarly acceptable and effective in improving weight and parental self-efficacy, with significant improvements maintained at a 3-month follow-up.

GSH-FBT demonstrated a greater efficiency in achieving treatment outcomes compared to FBT-V, suggesting that online interventions may be a more time-effective option for families dealing with anorexia nervosa.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial comparing family-based treatment via videoconferencing and online guided self-help family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa. Lock, J., Couturier, J., Matheson, BE., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12593892/

National implementation of guided self-help family-based ... The effectiveness of parental GSH-FBT for adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) was first reported within a feasibility study [15]. This study ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1551714424002015

Protocol for a randomized clinical trial to confirm the ... Protocol for a randomized clinical trial to confirm the effectiveness of online guided self-help family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa.

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04957498

Feasibility Study Comparing Standard FBT and Guided ... Preliminary data collected in a previous study suggest that a Guided Parental Self-Help Version of FBT (GSH-FBT) has similar outcomes as therapist provided FBT.

4. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/13/2160

Advancements in Family-Based Treatment of Adolescent ... A scoping review of 43 studies (N = 10 focused on parent only treatments) concluded that weight gain occurred faster with parent support interventions. Parents ...

5. jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-023-00879-9

Effects of family-based treatment on adolescent outpatients ... Family therapy for adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN) has stronger evidence of efficacy in comparison with individual therapy, and family-based ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11323053/

Protocol for a randomized clinical trial to confirm the ... Protocol for a randomized clinical trial to confirm the effectiveness of online guided self-help family-based treatment for adolescent Anorexia Nervosa.

7. jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-025-01367-y

Family life and caregiving during family-based treatment (FBT ... We suggest that clearer communication and more emotional support for parents could help families feel more confident and supported during FBT.