Facilitators and Barriers in Anorexia Nervosa - Treatment Initiation
- Conditions
- Anorexia NervosaFeeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood
- Interventions
- Other: No intervention
- Registration Number
- NCT03713541
- Lead Sponsor
- Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
- Brief Summary
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a comparably low-prevalent illness. Chronic courses are often and the mortality rate of patients with AN is higher than in any other mental illness. A major influence on the course of the illness is the interval between the onset of AN symptoms and the beginning of an adequate treatment (duration of untreated illness, DUI). Patients with AN have a better prognosis if treated early. Previous large-scale interventions have not shown the desired positive effects on the DUI. Therefore, an important starting point seems to be a better initial understanding of the factors influencing the DUI, which is the major aim of this project.
The planned mixed-method study is divided in three consecutive sub-studies. The first substudy aims to identify modifiable factors influencing the DUI using semi-structured interviews and a multi-informant approach (patients, carers, physicians). As a result of this qualitative analyses using Grounded Theory the most relevant factors will be determined. The motivation of the second substudy is to condense the factors identified to influence the DUI into a checklist and to conduct a first psychometric evaluation of this newly developed instrument. The third substudy aims to quantitatively determine the magnitude of the effects of a) a priori determined non-modifiable factors and b) the modifiable checklist-factors using a multi-informant approach (planned n for each informant = 130; 13 co-operating specialized clinics and 6 cooperating outpatient partners). Additional outpatient partners may be recruited during the course of the study.
In conclusion, the study aims to derive recommendations for effective secondary prevention. Thereby, the study might ultimately contribute to earlier treatment initiation of patients with AN, and to the prevention of chronic courses and the associated high health care costs and individual burden.
- Detailed Description
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a comparably low-prevalent, yet due to its somatic and mental consequences serious illness. Chronic courses are often and the mortality rate of patients with AN is higher than in any other mental illness.
A major influence on the course of the illness is the interval between the onset of AN symptoms and the beginning of an adequate treatment (duration of untreated illness, DUI). That is, patients with AN have a better prognosis if treated early. Previous large-scale interventions have not shown the desired positive effects on the DUI. Therefore, an important starting point seems to be a better initial understanding of the factors influencing the DUI, which is the major aim of this project. Based on this evidence, this study aims to derive recommendations for effective secondary prevention.
To our very best knowledge this is the first study investigating factors influencing the DUI using a multi-informant strategy, that is exploring the perspective of patients with AN, their significant carers and involved physicians. Furthermore, the study will avoid the confounding of patients with different eating disorder diagnoses, i.e. it will include exclusively patients with AN. Finally, there will be a clear focus on factors which are modifiable and precise in their definition.
The planned mixed-method study is divided in three consecutive sub-studies. The first substudy aims to identify modifiable factors influencing the DUI using semi-structured interviews and a multi-informant approach (patients, carers, physicians). As a result of this qualitative analyses using Grounded Theory the most relevant factors will be determined. The motivation of the second substudy is to condense the factors identified to influence the DUI into a checklist and to conduct a first psychometric evaluation of this newly developed instrument. The third substudy aims to quantitatively determine the magnitude of the effects of a) a priori determined non-modifiable factors and b) the modifiable checklist-factors using a multi-informant approach (planned n for each informant = 130; 13 co-operating specialized clinics and 6 cooperating outpatient partners). Additional outpatient partners may be recruited during the course of the study.
In conclusion, the study aims to derive recommendations for effective secondary prevention. Thereby, the study might ultimately contribute to earlier treatment initiation of patients with AN, and to the prevention of chronic courses and the associated high health care costs and individual burden.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 450
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Patients with Anorexia nervosa (AN) No intervention Female patients with Anorexia nervosa (AN, ICD-10: F50.0/1) of 14 years and older, receiving an initial treatment due to their AN (start of initial treatment no longer than 3 months ago, inpatient care: at least 7 days inpatient; outpatient care: at least 5 sessions with the same therapist) with sufficient language skills and no serious organic or psychiatric illnesses and no acute suicidality will be consecutively included in the study. No intervention. Physicians of patients with AN No intervention Resident general practitioner, pediatrician, internist or gynecologist with at least one medical patient contact within the last 12 months. No intervention. Carers of patients with AN No intervention Significant caregivers in AN patients aged 14 to 15 years: parents; in AN patients aged 16 years and over: parents or other significant carer. No intervention.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Duration of untreated illness (DUI in months) from date of study enrolment up to 12 weeks DUI (defined as the time between occurence of first symptoms and treatment) is assessed retrospectively and cross-sectional using standardized interviews and paper-and-pencil questionnaires.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Duration of first contact (DUC in month) from date of study enrolment up to 12 weeks DUC is assessed cross-sectional (retrospectively) using standardized interviews and paper-and-pencil questionnaires.
Trial Locations
- Locations (18)
Curtius-Clinic, Specialist Clinic for Psychosomatics and Psychotherapeutic Medicine
🇩🇪Bad Malente, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Clinic Lüneburger Heide
🇩🇪Bad Bevensen, Germany
Schön Clinic Roseneck
🇩🇪Prien am Chiemsee, Bavaria, Germany
Schön Clinic Bad Bramstedt
🇩🇪Bad Bramstedt, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Schön Clinic Bad Arolsen
🇩🇪Bad Arolsen, Germany
MediClin Seepark Clinic
🇩🇪Bad Bodenteich, Germany
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Local psychotherapists
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
VT Falkenried Training and Education
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Schön Clinic Eilbek
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Schön Clinic Hamburg Eilbek
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Institute for Behavior Therapy Education Hamburg (IVAH)
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Asklepios Clinic Nord - Ochsenzoll
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
University Clinic Regensburg
🇩🇪Regensburg, Germany
Evangelic hospital Ginsterhof HmbH
🇩🇪Rosengarten, Germany
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Asklepios West Clinic Hamburg
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Behavior therapy Falkenried MVZ GmbH
🇩🇪Hamburg, Germany
Timmermann & Partner, Medical care center for physical and mental health
🇩🇪Cuxhaven, Germany