Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-16-2020
Department
Psychology
Language
English
Publication Title
Frontiers in Psychology
Abstract
The implementation of online technologies to promote wellbeing is increasingly becoming a worldwide priority. This study includes secondary analyses of data and examined drop-out rates in an online guided self-help intervention for patients with anorexia nervosa. Specifically, rates of drop-out at end of treatment (i.e., 6 weeks assessment), as well as intervention adherence (minimum of four of six online guided sessions) and differences between completers and drop-outs were examined. Motivation to change and associated patient variables were assessed as predictors of drop-out using structural equation modeling. Ninety-nine patients were randomized to the intervention arm of the trial. Data were available for 82 individuals, 67 of whom completed the 6 weeks assessment and attended a minimum of four online sessions. No significant differences were found between completers and drop-outs at baseline. At the end of the first week of participation, drop-outs from the 6 weeks assessment or the intervention reported less satisfaction with their work with the mentor delivering online guidance. Greater confidence in own ability to change and higher controlled motivation (willingness to change due to pressure from others) predicted lower drop-out rates from the 6 weeks assessment. Stronger alliance with the therapist at the treatment center and lower psychological distress were associated with greater autonomous motivation (self-directed motivation) and importance and ability to change. Data demonstrate that a novel online guided self-help intervention for patients with anorexia nervosa is feasible. Early satisfaction with the program and external pressure to change have a protective role against drop-out rates.
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00707
Recommended Citation
Cardi, Valentina, Gaia Albano, Laura Solerno, Gianluca Lo Coco, Suman Ambwani, Ulrike Schmidt, Pamela MacDonald, and Janet Treasure. "The Feasibility of Using Guided Self-Help in Anorexia Nervosa: An Analysis of Drop-Out From the Study Protocol and Intervention Adherence." Frontiers in Psychology 11 (2020): Article 707. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00707/full
Comments
This published version is made available on Dickinson Scholar with the permission of the publisher. For more information on the published version, visit Frontiers in Psychology's Website.
Copyright © 2020 Cardi, Albano, Salerno, Lo Coco, Ambwani, Schmidt, Macdonald and Treasure. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.