RISE Therapy for Eating Disorders

Overseen By April Smith

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Auburn University

Disqualifiers: Under age 10

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new method to help individuals with eating disorders reconnect with their body's internal signals, such as hunger and fullness. The treatment, RISE Therapy (Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences), aims to enhance body awareness and emotional understanding through a series of sessions. It is designed for those with a clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder who are already patients at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. Participants will learn to better sense and respond to their body's needs, potentially aiding in disorder management. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative therapy techniques that could significantly improve quality of life.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this training is safe for individuals with eating disorders?

Research has shown that the Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences (RISE) treatment is generally easy for participants to handle. In an earlier study, 85% of participants completed all four parts of the program and found it acceptable. Another study linked RISE to positive outcomes, such as fewer suicidal thoughts and better management of eating disorder symptoms. However, some participants reported negative health changes, which can occur in clinical studies. These findings suggest that while some risks exist, RISE is mostly safe and well-received by participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

RISE Therapy is unique because it focuses on enhancing interoception, or the ability to sense and understand internal body signals, which is not typically addressed by standard eating disorder treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy or medication. This therapy involves interactive modules that help individuals develop better body awareness, recognize and respond to body sensations related to eating and emotions, and improve self-care. Researchers are excited about this approach because it offers a holistic, non-invasive way to help people reconnect with their bodies and potentially improve their relationship with food and self-awareness, offering a fresh perspective compared to traditional methods.

What evidence suggests that RISE Therapy is effective for eating disorders?

Research has shown that Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences (RISE) therapy, which participants in this trial will receive, holds promise for people with eating disorders. One study found that this therapy reduced symptoms of eating disorders and improved emotional awareness. Another study observed a decrease in general psychological symptoms, suggesting benefits for overall mental health. The therapy focuses on enhancing interoception, the ability to sense internal body signals—a common challenge for those with eating disorders. These early findings offer encouragement for anyone considering joining this clinical trial. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals over the age of 10 who have been clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder and are patients at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders. The study aims to include those who may struggle with recognizing internal bodily sensations.

Inclusion Criteria

Be a patient at the Louisville Center for Eating Disorders

I have been diagnosed with an eating disorder.

I am older than 10 years.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants undergo interoceptive training consisting of four 25-30 minute modules delivered weekly, focusing on body awareness, body sensations and movement, eating, health and self-care, emotional awareness, and understanding the self in relation to others.

4 weeks

4 sessions (online)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in eating disorder symptoms and interoceptive awareness using self-report assessments.

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences

Trial Overview The study is testing a training called 'Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences' (RISE), which is designed to help participants with eating disorders improve their ability to perceive bodily sensations like hunger, fullness, and thirst.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The interoceptive training consists of four 25-30 minute modules (plus 15-minutes worth of optional weekly practice) that focus on multiple aspects of interoception including: body awareness, body sensations and movement, eating, health and selfcare, emotional awareness, and understanding the self in relation to others. These modules are delivered weekly.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Auburn University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

81

Recruited

14,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

PROJECT RECOVER is exploring integrated treatment approaches for individuals with both eating disorders (ED) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), focusing on concurrent delivery of Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) alongside intensive ED treatment.

Initial findings indicate that integrating CPT with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for ED can effectively address the relationship between these disorders, promoting recovery from both ED and PTSD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integrating cognitive processing therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder with cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders in PROJECT RECOVER. Trottier, K., Monson, CM.[2021]

Eating disorders (EDs) are deeply connected to a person's identity and can be influenced by insecure attachments and traumatic experiences, which affect emotional regulation and self-representation.

The paper proposes an integrated psychotherapy model that addresses the complex interplay of bodily identity, trauma, and narrative self-concept in treating EDs, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Narrative and Bodily Identity in Eating Disorders: Toward an Integrated Theoretical-Clinical Approach. Pellegrini, RA., Finzi, S., Veglia, F., et al.[2022]

Eating disorders in women who experienced childhood abuse and neglect can be understood as attempts to manage overwhelming emotions and create a sense of self, often leading to self-destructive behaviors like binge eating and purging.

Effective treatment involves individual therapy to rebuild trust in relationships and group therapy to reduce isolation, helping patients confront their trauma and move towards healing and personal growth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Histories of childhood trauma and complex post-traumatic sequelae in women with eating disorders. Rorty, M., Yager, J.[2019]

A contemporary psychodynamic framework highlights that eating disorders are not just influenced by cognitive or biological factors, but also by unmet attachment needs and social pressures, which can lead to maladaptive coping mechanisms.

This model suggests that effective treatment for eating disorders should address both the symptoms and the underlying attachment issues, focusing on interpersonal relationships and emotional regulation, as illustrated by two clinical case examples.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Eating disorders and attachment: a contemporary psychodynamic perspective. Tasca, GA., Balfour, L.[2016]

Eating disorders are difficult to treat due to high rates of comorbidity with personality disorders and other psychological issues, leading to high dropout and relapse rates, particularly in anorexia nervosa, which has the highest mortality rate among psychiatric disorders.

The authors propose a new schematherapeutic approach that combines experiential methods with evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to enhance patient motivation and improve treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Schematherapy in Eating Disorders - An Integrative Approach to Improve the Outcome]. Archonti, C., de Zwaan, M.[2018]

Therapists with lived experience of eating disorders (EDLE) utilize their personal experiences to inform their clinical practice, transforming these experiences into valuable guidance for treating clients with eating disorders.

The study identified two key systems that therapists use: the Central System, which helps in applying their lived experiences clinically, and the Checks and Balances System, which ensures they maintain professional boundaries while connecting with clients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"Bringing and Removing Self from the Table": Therapists' use and management of eating disorder lived experience in the treatment of clients with eating disorders. King, AA., Russon, JM.[2023]

Internal Language Enhancement Therapy (ILET) is a novel treatment for eating disorders that combines neurobiology, psychoanalytic theory, and cognitive behavioral techniques to enhance emotional processing.

ILET aims to help patients reconnect with their emotions by identifying triggers and using symbolic language, suggesting that eating disorders manifest when individuals are stuck in a concrete emotional state.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

From red vegetables to sexuality: Resymbolizing the meaning of concrete thought in eating disorders. Pearlman, B.[2020]

Recovery from anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) after 12 and 18 months is significantly associated with higher levels of mentalization, suggesting that enhancing this skill during treatment could improve outcomes.

Patients who recovered showed greater improvements in autonomy and lower levels of co-morbid symptoms like anxiety and depression, indicating that fostering independence may be a key mechanism in the recovery process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Recovery from eating disorder 1 year after start of treatment is related to better mentalization and strong reduction of sensitivity to others. Kuipers, GS., Hollander, SD., van der Ark, LA., et al.[2019]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8870213/

A Pilot Feasibility Study of Reconnecting to Internal ... Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that the RISE intervention is associated with both decreases in suicidal ideation and eating disorder ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05285111

Pilot of Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and ... An unfavorable change in the health of a participant, including abnormal laboratory findings, that happens during a clinical study or within a certain amount of ...

3. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05837312

Testing the Effects of RISE on Eating Pathology This project seeks to test an accessible, online intervention designed to improve interoception and thereby reduce ED symptoms. Official Title. Pilot Test of ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000578942100023X

Reconnecting to Internal Sensation and Experiences Moreover, the intervention was associated with improvements in interoception and reductions in suicidal ideation, general psychological symptoms, and disordered ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-feeding-and-eating-disorders-7-2023-5038a

RISE Therapy for Eating Disorders · Info for Participants The goal of the present study is to continue to test the effectiveness of a training for interoceptive dysfunction that aims to reconnect individuals with ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37655866/

Reconnecting to Internal Sensations and Experiences (RISE) Results: RISE was rated as acceptable and demonstrated excellent feasibility per completion rates (85% completed all four modules). RISE ...

7. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/am/pii/S000578942100023X

Reconnecting to Internal Sensation and Experiences Decades of research have been devoted to studying risk factors that have ultimately proved to be weak predictors of suicide, and therefore have limited utility ...