Virtual exposure treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Adapting Exposure Therapy to Target Anxiety About Weight Gain in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa
This project will try virtual exposure therapy to help 14–17-year-olds with anorexia nervosa face and tolerate anxiety about weight gain.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 16 (estimated) |
| Ages | 14 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hershey, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT07188155 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot will deliver 20 weekly virtual exposure therapy sessions (40–60 minutes each) combining individual work (35–50 minutes) with parent collaboration (10–25 minutes) to support skill use and exposure completion. Participants (about 8 per site) are recruited from eating disorder clinic waitlists and clinician referrals at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and UCSF and will be treated at an outpatient level of care. The therapy focuses on having adolescents complete short-term anxiety-provoking tasks related to weight gain and eating to improve long-term tolerance of anxiety. Caregiver involvement is built into sessions so parents can help implement and reinforce exposures at home.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adolescents aged 14–17 with a DSM diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, ≤90% expected body weight, living with at least one parent/caregiver, mentally stable for outpatient care, and willing to pause other psychotherapy during the program.
Not a fit: Patients with bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder, current psychotic disorder or intellectual disability, acute suicidality, pregnancy, non-English speakers, or those unwilling to pause ongoing psychotherapy are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer an accessible virtual option that reduces anxiety about weight gain and helps adolescents progress toward recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Exposure-based approaches for anorexia are relatively novel; small pilot studies suggest promise but there are no large definitive trials yet.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Has a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN) * English speaking * Mentally stable for an outpatient level of care * Living with at least one parent/caregiver * Less than or equal to 90% of expected body weight Exclusion Criteria: * Younger than 14 years old or older than 17 years old * Has a current psychotherapist and not open to pausing treatment for the duration of the study * Has a diagnosis of bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder * Acutely suicidal * Pregnant * Meets DSM-5 criteria for a psychotic disorder and/or has an intellectual disability * Non-English speaking
Where this trial is running
Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Penn State College of Medicine — Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Jamal Essayli, PhD
- Email: jessayli@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
- Phone: (717) 531-0003
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.