Testing an Internet-Based Intervention for Preventing Eating Disorders

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Eating Disorders
• Interventions: Behavioral: Image and Mood (IaM) program

• Registration Number: NCT00934583
• Lead Sponsor: Stanford University

Brief Summary

This study will examine the ability of an Internet-based program to prevent college-aged women from developing eating disorders.

Detailed Description

Approximately 2% to 4% of college-aged women suffer from eating disorders (EDs), and many more are at risk of developing them. A previous Internet-based intervention called Student Bodies (SB), which focused on body image concerns, was effective in reducing risk factors for EDs among college-aged women. However, the original SB program did not account for certain other risk factors, such as depression and compensatory behaviors like self-induced vomiting, over-exercising, or use of diuretics. Image and Mood (IaM) is an enhanced version of the SB program and takes into account depressive symptoms and the use of compensatory behaviors. This study will examine whether IaM will reduce ED risk factors in a large population of college women who are at high risk of developing EDs.

Participation in this study will last 10 weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to either receive the IaM program or be placed on a wait list. The IaM program, which will be delivered through the Internet, will provide information about nutrition, exercise, body image, and coping skills-including examples and exercises. It will also include an online message board monitored by a study psychologist. Each week the IaM participants will monitor their behavior, keep a journal about their experiences, and answer self-report questionnaires. Assessments of eating disorder symptoms; weight and shape concerns; depressive symptoms; and incidence of substance abuse, anxiety, or depressive disorders will be completed post-treatment and at 1- and 1.5-month follow-ups. Those assigned to the wait list will complete these assessments and then receive the IaM program after the last follow-up.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-07-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-07-06
• Study First Posted: 2009-07-08
• Study Start: 2009-08
• Primary Completion: 2012-04
• Study Completion: 2012-04
• Status Verified: 2020-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-03-16
• Last Update Posted: 2020-03-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 549

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Image and Mood (IaM) program	Image and Mood (IaM) program	Participants will participate in the IaM program.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Eating disorder diagnoses	Measured after 10 weeks, 1 year, and 1.5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Weight Concerns Scale	Measured after 10 weeks, 1 year, and 1.5 years
Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaires (EDE-Q)	Measured after 10 weeks, 1 year, and 1.5 years
Depressive symptoms, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory and Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale	Measured after 10 weeks, 1 year, and 1.5 years
Combined incidence of substance abuse, alcohol abuse, anxiety disorders, and depressive disorders	Measured after 10 weeks, 1 year, and 1.5 years

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Washington University in St. Louis; 🇺🇸 Saint Louis, Missouri, United States

Stanford University School of Medicine; 🇺🇸 Stanford, California, United States