By InvitationNot Applicable

Preparing for Eating Disorders Treatment Through Compassionate Letter-Writing

Canada160 participantsStarted 2020-09-29

Plain-language summary

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) seeks to lower shame and help people develop compassion for personal distress and shortcomings. There is increasing evidence to support the benefits of incorporating CFT-based interventions into the treatment of eating disorders (EDs). Building on the investigators' prior research, this study will examine the effects of a two-week CFT-based self-compassion letter-writing intervention on patients with eating disorders. Participants will be recruited from the wait-list of patients scheduled to begin treatment at the outpatient St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton Eating Disorders Program, and will be randomly assigned to the two-week letter-writing intervention or to a control group. Results will inform the integration of new empirically-derived interventions into ED treatments to improve the currently dismal rates of ED recovery.

Who can participate

Age range

17 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder
. Eligible to start group eating disorders treatment at St. Joseph's Eating Disorder Program
. 17 years of age or older

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Weight- and Body-Related Shame and Guilt Scale (WEB-SG)

Timeframe: Change from baseline to post-2 weeks of intervention/control condition

Self-compassion Scale (short form; SCS-SF)

Timeframe: Change from baseline to post-2 weeks of intervention/control condition

Readiness to Change Eating Behaviours

Timeframe: Change from baseline to post-2 weeks of intervention/control condition

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04174703

SponsorUniversity of Waterloo

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Eating Disorders trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

17 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion criteria

. DSM-5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or binge eating disorder
. Eligible to start group eating disorders treatment at St. Joseph's Eating Disorder Program
. 17 years of age or older

What they're measuring

Weight- and Body-Related Shame and Guilt Scale (WEB-SG)

Timeframe: Change from baseline to post-2 weeks of intervention/control condition

Self-compassion Scale (short form; SCS-SF)

Timeframe: Change from baseline to post-2 weeks of intervention/control condition

Readiness to Change Eating Behaviours

Timeframe: Change from baseline to post-2 weeks of intervention/control condition