A Randomized Controlled Trial Testing a Digital, Gamified Early Intervention for Eating Disorders ("FlexED") (NCT07632248)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a new digital intervention decreases eating disorder symptoms in young women and girls at risk by changing how they experience thoughts and feelings about their body. The digital intervention is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Participants will be randomly assigned (like a coin toss) to either the new digital intervention or education modules completed online. The main questions are: Does the digital intervention change how participants experience thoughts and feelings about their body or how they react to eating disorder triggers (e.g., images of idealized bodies)? Do these changes lead to decreases in eating disorder symptoms? Is the intervention acceptable and at the right dose? Participants will: Complete seven brief digital sessions over about 8 weeks. Complete interviews, surveys and lab assessments of reaction to body-related words and images. Participants are followed for about 1 year.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (3 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (7 items).
Location: Duke University — Durham, North Carolina
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently meets the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for full threshold anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorder, or for an eating or feeding disorder that does not include body-image or weight related distress and is not the focus of study (e.g., ARFID, PICA) or a past diagnosis of one of these disorders.
- Change in psychotropic medications in the past month.
- Active suicidal ideation, current substance use disorder or diagnosed psychotic disorder.
- Bipolar disorder not being treated with medication.
- Currently in treatment for an eating disorder.
- Non-English speaking.
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)
- Duke University — Durham, North Carolina
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.