A Single-session Intervention Adaptation of the Habit Framework for the Prevention of Eating Disorders

A Single-session Intervention Adaptation of the Habit Framework for the Prevention of Eating Disorders

The purpose of this proposal is to launch the first trial of a single-session intervention (SSI) specifically for the prevention of eating disorders (EDs).

The emergence of EDs is bimodal such that there is a period of risk in early adolescence and a period of risk in late adolescence/early adulthood. EDs can lead to significant mental and physical health consequences and have one of the highest mortality rates of any mental illness. Prevention and treatment programs for EDs are fraught with barriers to access, particularly related to seeking care in-person. SSIs have been identified as a pathway to address the gap in care for EDs after showing promise for other psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicidality .

Inclusion Criteria:

• EAT-26 score ≥ 20 ( EAT-26, participants will meet the "referral criteria" which includes a score of 20 or more or meeting frequency criteria on bingeing, purging, laxative/diuretic use, and/or exercise.)
• English-language fluency, self-reported3
• Access to a phone, tablet, or computer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failure to correctly complete one of the attention checks in the survey prior to the intervention
• Failure to correctly complete both anagram tasks in the survey prior to the intervention
• Completion of the screening survey or pre-intervention surveys in an improbably fast time