Chloe Y Shu1, Hunna J Watson2, Rebecca A Anderson3, Tracey D Wade4, Robert T Kane3, Sarah J Egan5. 1. School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Eating Disorders Program, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Perth, Australia. 2. School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, United States; School of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. 3. School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. 4. School of Psychology, Flinders University, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: tracey.wade@flinders.edu.au. 5. School of Psychology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: S.Egan@exchange.curtin.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Perfectionism is a risk factor for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of unguided Internet cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism (ICBT-P) as a treatment and prevention for perfectionism and symptoms of eating disorders, anxiety, depression and self-esteem in female adolescents. METHOD:Young women (N = 94, 14-19 years) who self-identified as having difficulties with perfectionism but did not have a clinical eating disorder diagnosis were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated into one of three groups: unguided ICBT-P, unguided ICBT for nonspecific stress management (ICBT-S), or waitlist control. RESULTS: All analyses were intent-to-treat. ICBT-P resulted in the most favorable outcomes at post-treatment and 3- and 6-months follow-up. ICBT-P was superior to control on all outcome measures at 3- and 6-months and superior to ICBT-S on all outcomes over most time points (ds = 0.13-0.94). Clinical significance analysis demonstrated that the treatment prevented symptom increases over 6-month follow-up, with ICBT-P superior to ICBT-S in prevention of clinical perfectionism and depressive symptoms, and ICBT-P superior to waitlist control in prevention of eating disorder symptoms. There was relatively high attrition, although there were no differences in attrition between the groups at 3- and 6-month follow-up and rates were commensurate with other Internet interventions. DISCUSSION: The findings support unguided ICBT-P as a useful target for preventing eating disorder and associated symptoms in female youth who self-identify as perfectionistic. ANZCTR TRIAL NUMBER: ACTRN12615001098527. Crown
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Perfectionism is a risk factor for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of unguided Internet cognitive behaviour therapy for perfectionism (ICBT-P) as a treatment and prevention for perfectionism and symptoms of eating disorders, anxiety, depression and self-esteem in female adolescents. METHOD: Young women (N = 94, 14-19 years) who self-identified as having difficulties with perfectionism but did not have a clinical eating disorder diagnosis were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated into one of three groups: unguided ICBT-P, unguided ICBT for nonspecific stress management (ICBT-S), or waitlist control. RESULTS: All analyses were intent-to-treat. ICBT-P resulted in the most favorable outcomes at post-treatment and 3- and 6-months follow-up. ICBT-P was superior to control on all outcome measures at 3- and 6-months and superior to ICBT-S on all outcomes over most time points (ds = 0.13-0.94). Clinical significance analysis demonstrated that the treatment prevented symptom increases over 6-month follow-up, with ICBT-P superior to ICBT-S in prevention of clinical perfectionism and depressive symptoms, and ICBT-P superior to waitlist control in prevention of eating disorder symptoms. There was relatively high attrition, although there were no differences in attrition between the groups at 3- and 6-month follow-up and rates were commensurate with other Internet interventions. DISCUSSION: The findings support unguided ICBT-P as a useful target for preventing eating disorder and associated symptoms in female youth who self-identify as perfectionistic. ANZCTR TRIAL NUMBER: ACTRN12615001098527. Crown
Authors: Emily J Jones; Joel A Howell; Kate E Tonta; Sarah J Egan; Penelope A Hasking; Mark E Boyes; Peter M McEvoy; Trevor G Mazzucchelli Journal: Internet Interv Date: 2020-08-27