Enhanced Cue Exposure Therapy for Negative Emotional Eating
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Enhanced Cue Exposure Therapy for Negative Emotional Eating
The University of Hong Kong
138 participants
Dec 21, 2023
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The current study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Enhanced Cue Exposure Therapy (E-CET) in reducing negative emotional eating (NEE), compared to an active control intervention, behavioral lifestyle intervention (BLI), in a parallel-group, participant-blinded, randomized controlled trial. The secondary aim is to evaluate whether changes in conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus (CS-US) expectancies mediate the changes in NEE.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- aged 18 or over
- a score >3.25 on the emotional eating subscale of the Dutch Eating Behavioural Questionnaire lasting for three months or longer
- confirmed to have, on average, two or more NEE episodes per week using ecological momentary assessments (EMAs)
Exclusion Criteria5
- active suicidal intent or plan
- psychiatric illnesses except mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders because mood and anxiety disorders and symptoms are common in those with NEE
- currently receiving psychotherapy, or adjusting to changing psychiatric medication
- substance abuse
- any conditions or circumstances that prevent the participant from receiving all treatment sessions
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Interventions
The E-CET will consist of six weekly sessions and will be delivered by a clinical psychology trainee in person. Session #1 will be used to introduce to the participant the rationale and procedures of E-CET to establish therapeutic alliance, agreement on treatment goals and tasks, and to collect information on idiosyncratic CS-US expectancies to be targeted in exposures. Sessions #2 to #5 will be in vivo exposures. The interventionist will prompt the participant to evaluate the CS-US expectancy to facilitate the violation of the CS-US expectancy maintaining NEE. Between-session homework exposures will be planned and conducted by the participant in their naturalistic environment. They will also be reviewed at the beginning of the following session to consolidate learning. The final session will consist of consolidation of treatment gains and relapse prevention.
The BLI will consist of six weekly sessions of behavioral counselling integrating behavioral strategies for participants to make dietary changes. These behavioral strategies will include education about healthy and balanced diets, goal-setting, problem-solving, and relaxation. A manualized protocol developed by the PI's team for previous studies in the local community will be used.
Locations(1)
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NCT06012045