Developing Recommendations to Support Therapeutic Alliance in Eating Disorders Inpatient Treatment

NCT06961032 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 349873NIHR206158
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

The ALLIANCE study aims to understand and improve treatment relationships between staff and service users in inpatient eating disorder settings. It is NIHR funded and consists of 3 work packages (WP): WP1: Develop Programme Theory using realist literature review to identify how to effectively develop therapeutic alliance in inpatient treatment for Eating Disorders (ED), that maintains safety, whilst leading to improved treatment outcomes. WP1 consists of a literature review, using realist methods. Conducting this review will help us to understand existing evidence relating to treatment relationships in inpatient eating disorder setting. This WP is already underway. WP2: Test, expand and refine the theory via realist interviews with people who have lived experience of inpatient ED treatment and healthcare staff working in inpatient ED settings. Use the Programme Theory to develop actionable practice and policy recommendations to improve treatment outcomes, that can be operationalised (in a future study) into a complex intervention to improve alliance and treatment outcomes for ED. WP3: Codesign an animation (and supporting materials) with people with lived experience, to disseminate and communicate WP2 findings.

Conditions

Eating Disorders

Keywords

eating disorders; therapeutic alliance; inpatient care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Qualitative experiences of inpatient eating disorder treatment

  Qualitative semi-structured interviews with ED service users and healthcare professionals abut their experiences and perceptions of inpatient ED treatment and care.

  Within the past 5 years of discharge from inpatient ED services.

Study Arms (2)

Service Users with diagnosis of ED

Adults 18+ who have received a diagnosis of any ED, and have previously been admitted to an inpatient mental health ward for treatment within the last 5 years.

Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals with experience of working in an inpatient eating disorders unit.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults who have a prior diagnosis of ED and who have lived experience of being admitted onto an inpatient ED ward. Participants are identified from community ED teams and advertised through national ED support charities. Healthcare professional participants who have a professional experience of working on inpatient ED wards will be approached through participating NHS sites and national ED charities.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust: lead
• Loughborough University: collaborator
• University of East Anglia: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 8RA, United Kingdom

Location

Newmarket House Clinic

Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 6SY, United Kingdom

Location

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

Norwich, Norfolk, NR6 5BE, United Kingdom

Location

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

• Corinna J Hackmann, PhD, ClinPsyD

  Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Susan Holmes, PhD

  University of East Anglia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Charlotte J Wheeler, MSc

CONTACT

01603 421397; charlotte.wheeler@nsft.nhs.uk

Lisa M Gruenwald, PhD

CONTACT

01603 421397; lisa.grunwald@nsft.nhs.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 29, 2025
• First Posted: May 7, 2025
• Study Start: May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2025
• Study Completion: November 1, 2025
• Last Updated: May 7, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (3)