This pilot study is evaluating Exposure Therapy (Exp-AN) as a virtual treatment for adolescents (ages 14 - 17 years) with anorexia nervosa (AN) recruited from eating disorder clinic waitlists and clinician referrals at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) (8 participants per site). Adolescents who agree to take part in this study will receive 20 free virtual 40-60 minute weekly Exp-AN sessions at an outpatient level of care. Exp-AN for adolescents will combine individual virtual session time (35-50 min) with parent involvement (10-25 min). Parents will serve as "collaborators," supporting skill development, exposure completion, and treatment goal achievement. Exp-AN sessions will focus on helping participants overcome anxiety about weight gain by encouraging them to do challenging things that increase anxiety in the short term but help them better tolerate anxiety over the long term. Participants will be asked to complete a clinical interview, questionnaires, and labs and vitals testing before they begin the study. Adolescents will also complete questionnaires and participate in 15-min semi-structured interviews, while parents/caregivers will complete separate parallel interviews, at: mid-treatment, end-of-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. To ensure that all participants are receiving the same type of therapy, they will not be able to have any concurrent psychotherapy while receiving this treatment (other forms of care including dieticians, nutritionists, and psychiatrists are allowed). Exp-AN is designed to target anxiety about weight gain. Exp-AN includes education about the effects of undereating; the importance of overcoming anxiety about weight gain; in-session weight exposures (e.g., stepping on a scale while reading a script describing fears about weight gain); creating a meal plan to help improve eating; reviewing eating behaviors over the past week; conducting in-session and between-session exposures that help participants face fears related to weight gain; and relapse prevention.
Age range
14 Years – 17 Years
Sex
ALL
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Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
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.
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Eating Disorder Examination - Self-Report Questionnaire (EDE-Q)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Fear of Food Measure (FOFM)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Eating Disorder Fear Questionnaire (EDFQ)
Timeframe: Baseline, Sessions 1-20, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Weight Gain Anxiety Questionnaire
Timeframe: Baseline, Sessions 1-20, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Eating Anxiety Questionnaire
Timeframe: Baseline, Sessions 1-20, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Eating Disorder Examination - Self-Report Questionnaire Parent Version 1.5 (PEDE-Q)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Parent vs Eating Disorder Scale (PVED)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up
Percent of Expected Body Weight (EBW)
Timeframe: Baseline, Mid-Treatment, End-of-Treatment, 3-Month-Follow-Up