Parent-led virtual guided self-help for adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Official title: National Implementation of Highly Efficient Evidence-Informed Treatment for Youth With Eating Disorders
Run by McMaster University · NCT06851273 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program will test whether a virtual, parent-led guided self-help version of family-based therapy can shorten wait times and reduce eating-disorder symptoms in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 100 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | McMaster University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hamilton, Ontario) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 28, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | December 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | May 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06851273 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are families with an adolescent formally diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who have internet access and can participate in English or French.
✕Probably not a fit
Adolescents who are medically unstable, require hospitalization, have active substance dependence, are pregnant, have a physical condition affecting weight, or weigh under 75% expected are unlikely to benefit from this outpatient guided self-help model.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The intervention adapts Family-Based Treatment into a guided self-help (GSH FBT) model delivered via video and written materials with a licensed therapist acting as a coach. Implementation teams at participating sites will train providers and use standardized materials to support fidelity and consistent delivery. The study uses a mixed-methods design across Canadian sites to measure changes in wait times, patient and family outcomes, provider experiences, and treatment fidelity. Qualitative interviews and focus groups with families and care teams will capture the real-world acceptability and barriers to implementation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce wait times and provide faster, more standardized treatment that helps adolescents recover more quickly from anorexia nervosa.
How similar studies have gone: Traditional Family-Based Treatment is well supported, and early, smaller studies of guided self-help FBT adaptations show promise but are less established than full FBT.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 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 Criteria: * 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.
Where it's running
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McMaster University
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jennifer Couturier, MSc, MD
- Email: coutur@mcmaster.ca
- Phone: 905-521-2100
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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.