Targeting Minority Stressors to Improve Eating Disorder Symptoms in Sexual Minority Individuals With Eating Disorders

NCT06565637 | Recruiting Phase 1 DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 1R61MH133710-01A1R61MH133710-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a new intervention (Promoting Resilience to Improve Disordered Eating; PRIDE) can decrease internalized stigma and increase the ability to cope effectively with stressors in sexual minority populations diagnosed with eating disorders. The main question it aims to answer is: Will an eating disorders treatment focused on decreasing internalized stigma and increasing sexual minority stress coping self efficacy in sexual minority populations? Participants Will

• Complete a telephone screen with study staff to determine preliminary eligibility for the study
• Undergo a behavioral eligibility screening that includes structured clinical interviewing in order to determine proper diagnosis of an eating disorder along with ensuring absence of non-eating disorder diagnoses
• Complete self-report measures to determine study eligibility
• Attend up to 14 weekly therapy sessions as part of the PRIDE intervention, where participants will work with qualified clinicians to address eating pathology and disordered body image along with developing effective strategies for coping with sexual minority stressors
• Complete surveys upon completion of the intervention 3 and 6 months post follow-up

Conditions

Eating Disorders; Sexual Minorities

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Internalized Homophobia Scale (IHP)

  Assesses internalized stigma (9 items, 5-point scale, higher scores indicate greater internalized stigma).

  Change from Baseline through 3- and 6-month follow-up

• Sexual Orientation Implicit Association Test

  Assesses internalized stigma via computerized behavioral task involving categorizing positive/negative words with sexual minority and heterosexual people.

  Change from Baseline through 3- and 6-month follow-up

• Coping Self Efficacy Scale (CSES)

  Assesses sexual minority(SM)-stress coping self efficacy, as adapted for address SM stress in prior research (13 items, 11-point scale, higher scores indicate greater SM-stress coping self-efficacy).

  Change from Baseline through 3- and 6-month follow-up

Study Arms (1)

Psychotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will experience the PRIDE intervention. PRIDE is a 14-session treatment that incorporates aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E) and SM-affirmative therapy. CBT-E aspects of treatment include in-session weighing, self-monitoring (food logs), regular eating, and techniques to address overvaluation of weight and shape. SM-affirmative therapy techniques include discussing the impact of minority stress on health, resilience, and strength within the SM community, specific manifestations of minority stress on eating and body image, current coping strategies, emotion regulation skills, and developing mindful, present-focused reactions to minority stress.

Behavioral: Promoting Resilience to Improve Disordered Eating

Interventions

Promoting Resilience to Improve Disordered Eating BEHAVIORAL

See description under "Arms"

Also known as: PRIDE

Psychotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• age 18 to 65 years
• identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, other non-heterosexual identities
• meet criteria for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5 (DSM-5) eating disorder (i.e., anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, other specified feeding or eating disorder)
• reports current (past 12 months) experience with discrimination due to sexual orientation;
• speaks English
• has internet access and a working webcam
• reside (and plan to continue to reside for the study duration) in California or one of the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) states
• able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• inability to speak/read English
• active suicidal plans or intent
• other major untreated psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., untreated bipolar disorder, untreated psychosis)
• body mass index below 17.0, a standard clinical cutoff used to denote moderate-severe underweight that may be indicated for a higher level of medical care than standard outpatient treatment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Auburn University: lead
• San Diego State University: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Auburn University

Auburn, Alabama, 36849-9027, United States

RECRUITING

San Diego State University

San Diego, California, 92182, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Feeding and Eating Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Tiffany Brown, PhD

  Auburn University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Aaron Blashill, PhD

  San Diego State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Tiffany Brown, PhD

CONTACT

334-844-6687; tiffanybrown@auburn.edu

Kennedi Burton, B.A.

CONTACT

krb0136@auburn.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 1
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 20, 2024
• First Posted: August 22, 2024
• Study Start: February 28, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: October 6, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share

Locations

US (2)