At a glance
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AVATAR Therapy to Reduce the Power of the Eating Disorder Voice in Eating Disorders: Collaborative Development and Feasibility Testing
In Brief
A clinical study evaluating Avatar Therapy for Eating Disorders. Completed, enrolled 12 participants across 1 site.
Detailed Summary
This project will answer the overarching research question "What is the feasibility of developing and implementing AVATAR therapy to reduce the power of the eating disorder voice in patients with eating disorders?". AVATAR therapy for eating disorders has been developed based on AVATAR therapy for psychosis. The feasibility of using AVATAR therapy in eating disorders will be tested using non-concurrent multiple baselines single case experimental design. The first stage (A1) will involve participants being randomly allocated to either a two, three or four week-baseline. The second will be the intervention phase (B) where participants will receive the AVATAR treatment which will last approximately 6 weeks. The third stage (A2) will be a 4-week follow-up period after the intervention phase, where participants will also complete a qualitative interview.
Study Details
Timeline
Interventions
In the first session (assessment), participants will create a computerised representation of the eating disorder voice (avatar) on a computer. They will be able to manipulate the facial and voice characteristics of the avatar and will be asked to provide examples of the critical eating disorder comments most often spoken by the avatar. In the following sessions (6-8 therapy sessions), participants will interact with the avatar displayed on the computer screen for 5-10 minutes.The main goal during the interaction with the avatar is for participants to stand up to the critical comments made by the avatar and build a sense of power, control and self-awareness in the context of the eating disorder voice. The sessions will be conducted remotely, using a personal laptop or computer. This will provide patients with the opportunity to practise answering back to the eating disorder voice during a meal, a time at which the eating disorder voice is loudest.