Virtual exposure treatment for adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Official title: Adapting Exposure Therapy to Target Anxiety About Weight Gain in Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa
Run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center · NCT07188155 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 12 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 16 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hershey, Pennsylvania) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 20, 2026 |
| Main results expected | March 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 20, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07188155 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: Exposure-based approaches for anorexia are relatively novel; small pilot studies suggest promise but there are no large definitive trials yet.
Who can join: the full rules
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 * Experienced significant weight loss as determined by the local principal investigator at each enrolling local site Exclusion Criteria: * Younger than 12 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 it's running
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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
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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.