Efficacy of a specialized group therapy for compulsive exercise in

Efficacy of a specialized group therapy for compulsive exercise in

Efficacy of a specialized group therapy for compulsive exercise in
inpatients with anorexia nervosa: A cluster-randomized controlled trial
(project no. 26-13)
Authors
Prof. Ulrich Voderholzer, University Hospital of Freiburg, DE; Schön Klinik Roseneck, Prien,
DE
Sandra Schlegl, PhD, University Hospital of Munich (LMU), DE
Prof. Ulrich Cuntz, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, AT; Schön Klinik Roseneck,
Prien, DE
Aim
The aim of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of a manualized group therapy for
compulsive exercise in anorexia nervosa (AN) as an add-on to regular inpatient treatment.
Background
Compulsive exercise is a frequent and characteristic, yet insufficiently studied symptom
that can be observed in 31-81% of AN patients. It has been shown that compulsive
exercise is associated with poor response to treatment in the short-term and long-term
chronification of AN. However, there are currently no evaluated treatment options that
specifically target compulsive exercise. In response to this need, a group-based treatment
called “Development of healthy exercise behavior (DEB)”, that focuses on reducing both
the compulsive quality and the excessive quantity of patients´ exercise behavior, has been
developed by a team of clinical psychologists, sport therapists and psychiatrists. Following
promising findings from a pilot study, a large cluster-randomized trial is now performed in
order to evaluate the efficacy of DEB.
Method
168 inpatients with AN will be cluster-randomized to treatment as usual (TAU) or to
TAU + DEB. DEB consists of eight 100 minute sessions. In order to thoroughly evaluate
treatment efficacy, psychopathological and physical parameters will be measured at five
time points. In addition, expert ratings will be used to re-examine the diagnosis of AN and
the fulfillment of criteria for compulsive exercise. Accelerometry will be used as an objective
measure of physical activity. Finally, endocrine parameters will be measured to further
explore predictors and mechanisms of change in compulsive exercise symptomatology.
Execution
November 2013 – October 2015
The project is funded by the Swiss Anorexia Nervosa Foundation.