Self-Guided Personalized Treatment for Eating Disorders

Overseen By Abigail K McCarthy, B.S.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Louisville

Disqualifiers: Active mania, suicidality, psychosis

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 8 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a self-guided mobile treatment to help women manage disordered eating. Participants will use smartphones to track eating habits for two weeks, identifying problem areas. They will then receive two personalized treatment modules on their phones, designed to improve eating behavior and overall well-being. Women with significant disordered eating patterns who own a smartphone and can read and write in English may be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers an opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new methods of managing disordered eating.

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 might be best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this self-guided personalized treatment is safe for eating disorders?

Research shows that self-guided treatments for eating disorders are gaining popularity because they cater to individual needs. These treatments fit the unique requirements of each person. Studies have found that digital self-help tools, like those used in this trial, are generally well-liked by users. Many find them helpful for managing symptoms.

Evidence from past studies also suggests that self-guided digital treatments are safe. Participants in these studies did not report any major side effects or problems. For many, these tools offer a convenient way to receive support and improve health.

Overall, existing research supports the idea that self-guided personalized treatments are safe and can effectively assist people with eating disorders. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Most treatments for eating disorders involve in-person therapy sessions or medications, which can be time-consuming and may not be accessible to everyone. The self-guided personalized treatment is unique because it uses smartphone technology to deliver personalized therapy modules directly to users. This method allows individuals to self-monitor and address their eating disorder symptoms conveniently and privately. Researchers are excited about this approach because it empowers individuals to take control of their treatment on their own schedule, potentially reaching more people and offering a flexible, cost-effective alternative to traditional therapies.

What evidence suggests that this self-guided personalized treatment is effective for disordered eating?

Research has shown that personalized treatment for eating disorders can be very effective. Tailoring care to each person's specific needs can greatly improve treatment for these conditions. In this trial, participants will receive a self-guided personalized treatment delivered through mobile apps. Studies have found that self-guided programs available through mobile apps help people track their behaviors and receive specific support. By focusing on individual habits and challenges, this method can reduce symptoms of disordered eating and improve overall quality of life. Previous research also highlights that digital tools boost engagement and make treatment more accessible for many people. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Cheri A Levinson

Principal Investigator

University of Louisville

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women aged 18-65 who recognize they have disordered eating, as indicated by a specific score on an eating disorder assessment. Participants must be able to read and write English and own a smartphone or tablet.

Inclusion Criteria

Endorse disordered eating (score of 2.3 or above on EDE-Q6)

Ability to read and write English

Own a smartphone or tablet

Exclusion Criteria

Active suicidality

Active psychosis

Active mania

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks

Smart-phone self-monitoring

Treatment

Participants receive two self-guided modules of personalized treatment on their smart-phones

8 weeks

Baseline, week 5, and week 8 assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Self-guided Personalized Treatment

Trial Overview The study is testing a self-guided mobile intervention designed to help women manage their disordered eating. It involves two weeks of monitoring followed by personalized treatment modules delivered via smartphones over two months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Self-guided Personalized Treatment Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Women who endorse significant DE will complete two weeks of smart-phone self-monitoring to identify target problems and will be sent two self-guided modules of personalized treatment directly to their smart-phones.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Louisville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

353

Recruited

76,400+

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Collaborator

Trials

315

Recruited

251,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials

3,007

Recruited

2,852,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 84 patients undergoing treatment for eating disorders, those with anorexia used the self-monitoring app Recovery Record significantly more than those with bulimia, especially in the later weeks of treatment.

Overall app usage declined over the 26-week period, with factors like older age and no prior treatment linked to higher app engagement, suggesting that these characteristics may influence how patients interact with digital tools in their recovery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patient use of a self-monitoring app during eating disorder treatment: Naturalistic longitudinal cohort study. Lindgreen, P., Lomborg, K., Clausen, L.[2023]

The study aims to improve treatment for eating disorders (EDs) by developing personalized models that account for individual differences in symptoms and pathology, as up to 50% of individuals do not respond to standard Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E).

By collecting data from 120 participants over 30 days using a mobile app and a sensor wristband, the research will identify specific behavioral and physiological targets that predict treatment outcomes and remission, potentially leading to more effective, tailored interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Personalized networks of eating disorder symptoms predicting eating disorder outcomes and remission. Levinson, CA., Cash, E., Welch, K., et al.[2021]

Guided self-help (GSH) for eating disorders is a promising treatment option, especially for children and adolescents, where access to traditional therapies is often limited.

This study provides detailed insights into online GSH sessions, highlighting how they differ from standard family-based therapy (FBT) delivered via videoconferencing, which could enhance understanding and implementation of these methods.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Applying online parental guided self-help family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa: A comparison to family-based treatment delivered by videoconferencing. Couturier, J., Webb, C., Carson, N., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11983806/

Treating the individual: moving towards personalised eating ... This review discusses how personalised treatment can transform care for people with EDs. Personalised care tailors treatment to each person's unique biology, ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-eating-disorders-9-2023-fd855

Self-Guided Personalized Treatment for Eating Disorders By collecting data from 120 participants over 30 days using a mobile app and a sensor wristband, the research will identify specific behavioral and ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12247249/

Personalised and precision mental health in eating disorders This paper outlines the rationale for the collection of routine outcome data in eating disorder treatment settings, the three existing frameworks proposed,

4. jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-025-01320-z

The feasibility, acceptability and clinical impact of a guided ... The results of this study will determine the feasibility and clinical impact of a novel eating disorder transdiagnostic self-help intervention ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2770048

Effectiveness of a Digital Cognitive Behavior Therapy ... This cluster randomized clinical trial examines whether a coached, digital, cognitive behavior therapy intervention improves outcomes for ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471491424000340

Established and emerging treatments for eating disorders Guided self-help formats of CBT are useful first line interventions for bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED). Even with the best available ...

7. mental.jmir.org mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e57795

User Experiences of and Preferences for Self-Guided Digital ... This study aims to understand user experiences and user preferences for digital interventions that aim to reduce mild to moderate eating disorder symptoms in ...

8. jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40337-025-01333-8

Acceptability of a personalised single-session feedback ... This qualitative study investigated the anticipated acceptability of an SSI for EDs that provides a personalised health reports and self-management resources.