ACT-ED: Accessibility and Feasibility of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program

ACT-ED: ACT-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the accessibility and feasibility of an online group prevention program developed for women at risk for eating disorders. Also, to conduct a preliminary analysis of treatment efficacy. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does ACT-ED an acceptable intervention for women at risk for eating disorders? Does intervention result in reduced eating pathology?

Participants will:

Join the online, 4-session ACT-based group program Fill the measures at Pre-test, post-test and follow-up assessment

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Disordered Eating Behaviors; Eating Pathology; Eating Disorders Symptoms
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: ACT based eating disorder prevention program

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 5
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Basaksehir
    • Istanbul, Basaksehir, Turkey, 34480
      • Ibn Haldun University Psychotherapy Application and Research Center (IPAM)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a woman aged 18 years or older
• Exhibiting disordered eating behaviors (EDE-Q score ≥ 3.03)
• Experiencing body dissatisfaction (BSQ-34 score ≥ 110)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current or past diagnosis/treatment for an eating disorder
• Currently receiving psychotherapy
• Currently receiving psychiatric medication (not excluded if there has been no change in treatment in the last 6 months)
• Having chronic psychiatric disorders (e.g. psychosis)
• Having a substance addiction

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Group intervention; ACT-based online group intervention. 4 sessions of 1.5 hours, held once a week

Other: ACT based eating disorder prevention program; This intervention protocol was developed specifically for women who have body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. Based on the psychological flexibility model (hexaflex), it is designed to improve people's body image flexibility using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques. Interventions related to the dimensions of the hexaflex were made during each session. The first session covers values and goal setting. The second session includes creative hopelessness, acceptance, and self-compassion. The third session covers defusion and mindfulness. The last session focuses on self-as-context exercises and the combined use of skills for committed action.; Other Names: ACT-ED

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Disordered eating, assessed by the Turkish form of the Eating disorder examination questionnaire (EDE-Q)	Disordered eating is a risk factor for eating disorders. In a prevalence study conducted in Türkiye, individuals with EDE-Q scores of 3.03 and above were defined as a high-risk group (Deveci, 2020). In this study, EDE-Q scores were assessed for inclusion criteria during enrollment. Additionally, changes in EDE-Q scores are assessed at post-test and follow-up to assess treatment effect.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Body dissatisfaction, assessed by the Turkish form of Body shape Questionnaire (BSQ)	A total score of the questionnaire can be in the range of 34 to 204 where total score lower than 110 represents no concern, a total score between 110 and 137 represents mild concern, a total score between 138 and 166 represents moderate concern, and a total score higher than 167 represent severe concern. In this study, EDE-Q scores were assessed for inclusion criteria during enrollment; participants scores of 110 and above are included. Additionally, changes in EDE-Q scores are assessed at post-test and follow-up.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up
Body image flexibility, assessed by the Turkish form of the Body Image Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (BI-AAQ)	Body image flexibility (BIF) is a construct derived from the psychological flexibility model. BIF is defined as the capacity to experience perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts, and beliefs related to one's body without avoidance while acting in alignment with personal values. The BI-AAQ consists of 12 items; higher scores indicate lower BIF and increased body image inflexibility. In this study, this scale would be used to assess how one's relation with body image-related internal experiences changes after the prevention program.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up
Psychological flexibility, assessed by Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II)	The AAQ-II is designed to assess psychological flexibility defined as the capacity to be in contact with the present moment, fully aware of one's thoughts, emotions, and sensations. Higher scores indicate decreased psychological flexibility and increased experiential avoidance. In this study, the scale was used to assess changes in the general psychological flexibility.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up
Present moment awareness, assessed by the Turkish form of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI)	Present moment awareness is one of the dimensions of the psychological flexibility model. It is defined as the ability to fully engage with the present moment. Higher scores indicate better present moment awareness. In future studies, it is desired to examine which dimension of the psychological flexibility model has an effect on the treatment outcome. In this study, FMI was used to test its suitability in measuring change in this intervention.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up
Contextual Self, assessed by the Turkish form of the Self-As-Context Scale (SACS)	Contextual Self is one of the dimensions of the psychological flexibility model. It is defined as one's ability to view himself with a broader perspective. Higher scores indicate improved contextual self. In future studies, it is desired to examine which dimension of the psychological flexibility model has an effect on the treatment outcome. In this study, SACS was used to test its suitability in measuring change in this intervention.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up
Defusion, assessed by the Turkish form of the Cognitive Fusion Scale (CFS)	Defusion is one of the dimensions of the psychological flexibility model. It is defined as one's ability to separate himself from his thoughts. Higher scores indicate fusion, which is the opposite of defusion. In future studies, it is desired to examine which dimension of the psychological flexibility model has an effect on the treatment outcome. In this study, SACS was used to test its suitability in measuring change in this intervention.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up
Personality beliefs, assessed by the Turkish form of the Personality Beliefs Questionnaire- Short Form (PBQ-SF)	Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and borderline personality disorder are the most common personality disorders in eating disorders. PBQ is designed to assess dysfunctional personality beliefs, and higher scores on a subscale indicate stronger dysfunctional beliefs related to the corresponding personality. In future studies, it is desired to examine how the personality beliefs are affected by the prevention program. In this study, PBQ-SF was used to test its suitability in measuring change in personality beliefs by this intervention.	Baseline (pretest), week 4(posttest), 1-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ibn Haldun University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Emine Serra Nebati, Ibn Haldun University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 18, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 2, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): February 2, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 11, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 10, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 5, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: prevention; early intervention; eating disorders; disordered eating; eating pathology
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Feeding and Eating Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024/09-08

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared due to confidentiality concerns and ethical considerations.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No