20 Participants Needed

Self-help Therapy for Teen Binge Eating Disorder

(BEST Trial)

JA
YT
Overseen ByYale Teen Power Study Coordinator
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study is a pilot clinical trial of a new guided self-help CBT for binge eating. Participants will complete an intake assessment; following determination of eligibility, participants will then complete four months of treatment (weekly guided self-help sessions). At the end of treatment, participants will complete an interview with a research clinician to assess outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking medications that could affect your weight or appetite, you may not be eligible to participate in this study.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes participants who are taking medications that could influence weight or appetite, so you may need to stop such medications to join the study.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Binge Eating Self-help for Teens?

Research shows that guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective for treating binge eating disorder. Studies found that both guided and unguided self-help CBT can significantly reduce binge eating episodes and improve psychological well-being.12345

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Binge Eating Self-help for Teens?

Research shows that cognitive-behavioral self-help programs, both guided and unguided, can significantly reduce binge eating episodes and improve psychological well-being. These programs have been effective in both controlled trials and real-world settings, making them a promising option for treating binge eating disorder.12345

Is self-help therapy for binge eating disorder safe for teens?

The research on self-help therapy for binge eating disorder, including guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), suggests that these approaches are generally safe for humans. They are less time-consuming and financially costly compared to traditional therapies, and no specific safety concerns have been highlighted in the studies.12356

Is self-help therapy for binge eating disorder safe for teens?

The research on self-help therapy for binge eating disorder, including guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), suggests it is generally safe for humans. These therapies are less time-consuming and financially costly, making them accessible and potentially effective without significant safety concerns.12356

How is the Binge Eating Self-help for Teens treatment different from other treatments for binge eating disorder?

The Binge Eating Self-help for Teens treatment is unique because it offers a guided self-help approach using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) specifically designed for teenagers, which can be accessed online, making it more accessible and less costly compared to traditional therapy sessions that require in-person visits with specialized therapists.23456

How is the Binge Eating Self-help for Teens treatment different from other treatments for binge eating disorder?

The Binge Eating Self-help for Teens treatment is unique because it offers a guided self-help approach using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specifically designed for teenagers, which can be accessed online, making it more accessible and less costly compared to traditional therapy sessions that require in-person visits with specialized therapists.23456

Research Team

JA

Janet A Lydecker, PhD

Principal Investigator

Yale University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for teens aged 12-17 who are overweight (above the 85th percentile for their age and sex), have had at least two episodes of binge eating per month in the past three months, can read and write English well enough to complete study materials, and can commit to a five-month study. They must be generally healthy without serious medical conditions. Parental consent is required.

Inclusion Criteria

I can read, understand, and write English well enough for study materials.
I can commit to a 5-month study.
My BMI is above the 85th percentile for my age and sex.
See 13 more

Exclusion Criteria

I am not pregnant or breastfeeding.
Adolescents will be excluded if they have a concurrent feeding/eating disorder
I do not have a condition that needs hospital or intensive care.
See 6 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive weekly guided self-help CBT sessions for binge eating over four months

16 weeks
16 visits (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Binge Eating Self-help for Teens
Trial OverviewThe trial tests a new guided self-help cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program specifically designed for teens with binge eating issues. It includes one month of monitoring eating behavior followed by four months of weekly guided self-help sessions.
Participant Groups
1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Binge Eating Self-help for TeensExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants will have 16 guided self-help sessions (4 months; weekly sessions for adolescents with parents joining monthly). Participants will complete daily self-monitoring of eating behaviors (timing of meals and snacks; whether or not a binge occurred) throughout treatment. Treatment sessions involve a self-help component, which includes brief videos that participants watch at home. Treatment sessions also involve a guidance component (brief consultation), which is 15-30 minutes on a secure videoconferencing platform (e.g., Zoom) between the therapist and the participant. These sessions focus on clarifying material, reviewing self-monitoring and looking for patterns, and problem-solving maladaptive thinking patterns and binge behaviors.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Yale University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,963
Recruited
3,046,000+

Findings from Research

Both therapist-guided and unguided cognitive behavioral self-help methods are effective for treating binge eating, as shown in a study with 40 women, most of whom had binge eating disorder.
The guided self-help approach was more effective in reducing binge eating episodes and associated symptoms, highlighting the importance of support in treatment.
Guided and unguided self-help for binge eating.Loeb, KL., Wilson, GT., Gilbert, JS., et al.[2019]
Guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced (CBT-E) significantly reduced binge eating episodes from an average of 19 to 3 binges over 12 weeks, with 40% of participants achieving full recovery, indicating its efficacy as a treatment for binge eating disorder.
The study involved 180 patients in a randomized controlled trial, and while the guided self-help CBT-E group showed superior results initially, both groups had similar outcomes at follow-up after receiving treatment, highlighting the importance of access to timely care.
Efficacy of Web-Based, Guided Self-help Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced for Binge Eating Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial.Melisse, B., Berg, EVD., Jonge, M., et al.[2023]
A study involving 123 individuals showed that a manual-based guided self-help form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-GSH) was more effective than treatment as usual (TAU) in achieving abstinence from binge eating, with 64.2% of participants in the CBT-GSH group achieving this compared to 44.6% in the TAU group at the 12-month follow-up.
CBT-GSH also led to significant improvements in various secondary outcomes, including dietary restraint, concerns about eating, shape, and weight, as well as reductions in depression and better social adjustment, making it a strong first-line treatment for those with recurrent binge eating.
Cognitive behavioral guided self-help for the treatment of recurrent binge eating.Striegel-Moore, RH., Wilson, GT., DeBar, L., et al.[2021]

References

Guided and unguided self-help for binge eating. [2019]
Efficacy of Web-Based, Guided Self-help Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Enhanced for Binge Eating Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]
Cognitive behavioral guided self-help for the treatment of recurrent binge eating. [2021]
Cognitive-behavioral self-help for binge eating disorder: a controlled effectiveness study. [2022]
Effectiveness of web-based guided self-help cognitive behavioral therapy-enhanced for binge-eating disorder: An implementation study. [2023]
Dialectical behavior therapy guided self-help for binge-eating disorder. [2020]