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Social information processing in adolescents with eating disorders

What is the purpose of the research?

This research aims to evaluate a brief online programme which has been designed to support young people with eating disorders to improve their social functioning. The programme combines a procedure called “cognitive bias modification training” with online guided self-help support.

Who can take part?

  • Aged 12-18
  • Diagnosis of an eating disorder
  • Receiving treatment (i.e. therapy and/or psychiatric medication)
  • Fluent in English
  • No neurological conditions (e.g. epilepsy)
  • No severe sight impairment that is not corrected with glasses/contact lenses
  • No severe comorbid mental or physical health conditions requiring specialist treatment (e.g. severe autism, psychosis)

What does the study involve?

You will be asked to complete some initial questionnaires and tasks online related to social interactions, eating symptoms, anxiety levels and mood. The questionnaires will include some questions about your weight, but you will not have to answer these if you would prefer not to. You will then be randomly selected to either test the online programme straight away or after a 12-week waiting list.

The online programme involves completing some cognitive training tasks and using self-help strategies (with support from the researcher) to help to manage difficulties you may be experiencing in the social domain, for example in your relationships with friends or family. You will be asked to complete some follow-up questionnaires and tasks online after 4 and 12 weeks from when you join the study. For your time and efforts to contribute to this research, you will receive £45 Amazon vouchers.

How can someone take part?

If you are interested in taking part as an individual or clinical centre, please contact: Katie.rowlands@kcl.ac.uk

Affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London

This research has been approved by London-Riverside Research Ethics Committee (IRAS PROJECT ID 229005, REC Reference 17/LO/1867).