Guided Self Help for Eating Disorders Implementation Study
National Implementation of Highly Efficient Evidence-Informed Treatment for Youth With Eating Disorders
McMaster University
90 participants
Apr 28, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Eating disorders are amongst the most understudied illnesses affecting young women in Canada. Further, mortality rates are amongst the highest of all psychiatric illnesses. Despite their high prevalence and mortality rates, research into adolescent eating disorders is underfunded in Canada. In addition to the problem of research underfunding, healthcare system underfunding exists - creating long waiting lists and fragmented care for children and youth with eating disorders. More efficient treatments are urgently needed to reduce wait times and provide expedited care to adolescents on eating disorder waitlists. The current study aims to assess whether implementing a virtual parent-lead therapy, Guided Self Help Family-Based Therapy (GSH FBT) might alleviate wait times for eating disorder services and also reduce eating disorder symptomatology in young people with anorexia nervosa. This study also aims to determine the experiences of both families and medical teams of GSH FBT implementation as an intervention.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Family including an adolescent with a confirmed diagnosis of Anorexia nervosa according to DSM-5-TR criteria.
- Access to computer and internet connection
- Have the capacity to speak, write, and understand English or French
- Therapist/coaches are licensed mental health clinician with experience in eating disorder treatment
Exclusion Criteria8
- Adolescent has a current physical or mental disorder that requires hospitalization and/or prohibits the use of psychotherapy
- Adolescent has a current dependence on drugs or alcohol
- Adolescent has a current physical condition known to influence weight or eating (pregnancy, diabetes mellitus)
- Adolescent has expected body weight of less than 75%
- Adolescent/family has undergone four or more sessions of FBT for anorexia nervosa at any time
- Does not have the capacity to speak, write, and understand English or French
- Does not have access to computer and internet connection
- Professionals are not licensed mental health professionals with experience in eating disorder treatment.
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Interventions
Each family will participate in ten virtual sessions of GSH FBT with a trained GSH practitioner local to their provincial study site. Parents will meet their coach for a 60-minute onboarding session where the parents/caregivers are familiarized with the video platform used in treatment. Then, the treatment consists of ten virtual 20-minute sessions over 6 months. In GSH FBT, the parents weigh the adolescent patient prior to the session, on the same day as the session, and report the weight to the coach. Throughout treatment, parents have access to an online platform with a series of videos that outline the core components of FBT: the urgency to act, parental empowerment, medical complications, strategies to use during and after mealtime, and how to externalize the illness. In line with GSH approaches, coach-therapists direct parents to watch or review videos and text content rather than directly affecting behavioral change.
Locations(1)
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NCT06851273