Mobile app to deliver CBT-AR for ARFID
Official title: Development and Testing of a Mobile App to Scale Delivery of Cognitive-behavioral Therapy for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder
Run by Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT06898177 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile app is being tested to see if it can deliver cognitive-behavioral therapy for ARFID to adults who have not yet received face-to-face CBT-AR.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Massachusetts General Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 13, 2026 |
| Main results expected | April 1, 2030 |
| Study ends | April 1, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | June 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06898177 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults with ARFID who are fluent in English, reside in the United States, have internet access, and have not previously completed face-to-face CBT-AR at MGH.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals with medical instability, severe comorbid conditions needing additional treatment, or those unable to use mobile technology may not benefit from this app-based approach.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study tests a mobile app version of CBT-AR to scale access to evidence-based treatment for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). Eligible participants are adults with ARFID who speak English, live in the United States, and have a compatible smartphone with internet access. The trial seeks to determine whether the app can be feasibly used and whether it can deliver helpful therapeutic content for ARFID outside traditional in-person care. Key safety considerations include excluding individuals with significant medical instability, comorbid disorders needing other treatment, or those who have completed face-to-face CBT-AR at MGH. Leader institution is Massachusetts General Hospital, and the study location is in Boston, MA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the app could provide a scalable, inexpensive way to deliver CBT-AR to more people with ARFID.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts to adapt CBT for eating disorders into mobile formats have shown promise for accessibility and engagement, but app-based CBT-AR for ARFID is still emerging.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Current avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder based on DSM-5 criteria 2. Must not have completed face-to-face CBT-AR at the Eating Disorders Clinical and Research Program at Massachusetts General Hospital 3. Ability to speak, write, and understand English 4. Residence in the United States 5. Access to an internet-connected smartphone device Exclusion Criteria: 1. Underweight status (i.e., BMI \< 18.5 kg/m2) 2. Complete lack of oral intake or dependence on supplemental feeding 3. Feeding or eating disorder other than ARFID 4. Any comorbid clinically significant disorder that would require attention beyond the study treatment 6\. Medical instability requiring inpatient care according to the American Psychiatric Association 2023 treatment guidelines for eating disorders 7. Medical history of intellectual disability 8. Illiteracy
Where it's running
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Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Paraskevi Kambanis, PhD
- Email: pkambanis@mgh.harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-724-0799
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.