NIH-funded research R01 grant

Guided Online Self-Help Family-Based Treatment for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa

Official title: Confirming the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Online Guided Self-Help Family-Based Treatment for Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa

Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11396442 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study tests if an online guided self-help version of family-based treatment works as well as standard treatment for teens with anorexia nervosa, in real-world clinics.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionStanford University
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Stanford, United States)
Project startSeptember 20, 2022
Project endJuly 31, 2027
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$534,963
NIH project number5R01MH130388-05
Project IDNIH-11396442 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adolescents with anorexia nervosa and their families who are receiving treatment at participating sites.

Less likely to help

Teens who do not respond to behavioral interventions or who require alternative therapies may see limited benefit.

What this research studies

This project compares two treatments for adolescents with anorexia nervosa in real clinics: a guided self-help version delivered online and the traditional family-based treatment. It builds on prior work showing similar improvements with greater efficiency for GSH-FBT and aims to confirm its effectiveness in general clinical settings. Researchers will measure mental and weight-related health outcomes, track how quickly improvements occur, and examine how therapists feel about using the online approach. The study leverages Stanford’s strengths in implementation science to understand how best to scale a proven treatment. If successful, it could make effective care more accessible to more families.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, more teens could receive effective treatment faster and at lower cost, expanding access to care.

How similar studies have gone: Earlier multisite work showed similar improvements between GSH-FBT and standard FBT with good retention and safety.

Where this research is happening

  • Stanford University
    Stanford, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Lock, James D — Stanford University
  • Study coordinator: Lock, James D

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.