Evaluation of Practical Body Image therapy for Anorexia Nervosa V2

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A pilot study evaluating Practical Body Image (PBI): A body image therapy with mirror exposure for adolescent inpatients with Anorexia Nervosa

  • IRAS ID

    189223

  • Contact name

    John F Morgan

  • Contact email

    john.morgan2@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Newbridge House

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Practical Body Image is a novel, manualised, individual therapy designed for adolescents with anorexia nervosa for which the evidence base is not yet established. We have called this 'PBI' and wish to test its effectiveness.

    Research Questions:

    Does PBI improve self-reported body image in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa?

    Does mirror exposure improve self-reported body image in adolescent inpatients with anorexia nervosa after completion of the rest of PBI?

    Background:

    Dysfunctional body image is a strong predictor of onset, maintenance and relapse in anorexia nervosa, making treatment of such clinically and financially important. Studies have shown that cognitive behavioural based group therapies and mirror exposure interventions are effective in improving body image in adults with eating disorders; however research into individual body image treatments for adolescents with anorexia nervosa is limited.

    This research will therefore contribute to the evidence base for the treatment of body image in adolescents with anorexia nervosa by informing the effectiveness of a new treatment. The research will be funded by Newbridge House, an inpatient unit for children and adolescents with eating disorders, only.

    Design:

    Inpatients aged 11-18 who meet the framework of inclusion and exclusion criteria and are receiving treatment at Newbridge House will be recruited for participation in the study. Participants will be randomly allocated to either a case or control group using an Excel formula. Cases will receive PBI in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) and be compared with controls who just receive TAU. Both groups will complete a set of questionnaires at baseline and 10 weeks. Those in the case group will also complete the same set of questionnaires at one additional time point 7 weeks after baseline prior to commencing mirror exposure.

    Questionnaires:

    1. Youth Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (Y-EDE-Q shape and weight concern subscales)
    2. Physical Appearance State and Trait Anxiety Scale: Trait Version (PASTAS)
    3. Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIA-Q)
    4. Healthy Weight Body Acceptance Scale (HWBAS)
    5. Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (BIAA-Q)

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/WM/0327

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Sep 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion