Eating Disorder Chatbot Optimization
Optimizing an Automated Chatbot to Achieve Efficient, Scalable Treatment for Eating Disorders
1 other identifier
interventional
800
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to optimize an automated digital chatbot intervention for adults with clinical or subclinical eating disorders.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for phase_2
Started Mar 2026
Typical duration for phase_2
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
October 15, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
October 20, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 1, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 31, 2029
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
July 31, 2029
October 22, 2025
October 1, 2025
3.4 years
October 15, 2025
October 20, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
ED psychopathology; ED Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q)
The EDE-Q is a 28-item inventory derived from an ED diagnostic interview, which asks self-reported concerns with weight and shape, and engagement in ED behaviors, over the last 28 days. Each item is scored from 0-6, with 0 being "No days" and 6 being "Every day". An average is taken of all items participants respond to for a total global score (with possible scores ranging from 0 to 6), where higher scores indicate greater symptomology.
6 months
Secondary Outcomes (4)
ED behaviors from the EDE-Q; Muscle Building Subscale from the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI)
6 months
Depression; Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)
6 months
Anxiety; Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)
6 months
Clinical Impairment; Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA)
6 months
Study Arms (16)
Chatbot targeting weight & shape over-evaluation (WSC)
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot component addressing weight \& shape over-evaluation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the weight \& shape over-evaluation component. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study component.
Chatbot targeting dietary restraint (DR)
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot component addressing dietary restraint. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the dietary restraint component. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study component.
Chatbot targeting emotion dysregulation (ED)
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot component addressing emotion dysregulation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the emotion dysregulation component. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study component.
Chatbot targeting resisting urges to binge (UB)
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot component addressing resisting urges to binge. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the resisting urges to binge component. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study component.
Chatbot targeting WSC and DR
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing weight \& shape over-evaluation and dietary restraint. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the weight \& shape over-evaluation and dietary restraint components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting WSC and ED
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing weight \& shape over-evaluation and emotion deregulation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the weight \& shape over-evaluation and emotion dysregulation components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting WSC and UB
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing weight \& shape over-evaluation and resisting urges to binge. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the weight \& shape over-evaluation and resisting urges to binge components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting DR and ED
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing dietary restraint and emotion deregulation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the dietary restraint and emotion dysregulation components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting DR and UB
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing dietary restraint and resisting urges to binge. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the dietary restraint and resisting urges to binge components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting ED and UB
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing emotion dysregulation and resisting urges to binge. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the emotion dysregulation and resisting urges to binge components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting ED; UB; and DR
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing emotion dysregulation, resisting urges to binge, and dietary restraint. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the emotion dysregulation, resisting urges to binge, and dietary restraint components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting ED; UB; and WSC
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing emotion dysregulation, resisting urges to binge, and weight and shape over-evaluation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the emotion dysregulation, resisting urges to binge, and weight and shape over-evaluation components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting ED; DR; and WSC
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing emotion dysregulation, dietary restraint, and weight and shape over-evaluation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the emotion dysregulation, dietary restraint, and weight and shape over-evaluation components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Chatbot targeting UB; DR; and WSC
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing resisting urges to binge, dietary restraint, and weight and shape over-evaluation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the resisting urges to binge, emotion dysregulation, dietary restraint and weight, and shape over-evaluation components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components
Chatbot targeting UB; DR; ED; and WSC
EXPERIMENTALParticipant will have access to the chatbot components addressing resisting urges to binge, dietary restraint, emotion dysregulation, and weight and shape over-evaluation. Participant will receive scheduled targeted practice for the resisting urges to binge, emotion dysregulation, dietary restraint, emotion dysregulation, and weight and shape over-evaluation components. At any time, participant will have access to initiate practice in assigned study components.
Referral to seek services
NO INTERVENTIONThose randomized to receive all chatbot components "off" will receive a referral to seek services.
Interventions
Wysa is a digital rules-based chatbot program platform offering cognitive-behavioral therapy-based guided self-help modules. Participants in an arm with access to Wysa will engage with the digital chatbot program daily for eight weeks.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- + years old
- Owns a smartphone
- Speaks English
- US resident
- Screens for a clinical or subclinical eating disorder
- Low suicidality
- Not currently in treatment for an eating disorder
- Does not have a medical condition or take medications that impact appetite/weight
- Not currently pregnant
You may not qualify if:
- Below 18 years of age
- Does not own a smartphone
- Does not speak English
- Lives outside the US
- Screens as: at risk for an eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or not at risk for an ED
- High suicidality
- In treatment for an eating disorder
- Has a medical condition or takes medication(s) that impact appetite/weight
- Currently pregnant
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Washington University School of Medicinelead
- New York Universitycollaborator
- University of South Carolinacollaborator
Study Sites (1)
Washington University in St. Louis
St Louis, Missouri, 63105, United States
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, Ph.D.
Washington University School of Medicine
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- phase 2
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- FACTORIAL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Associate Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences and Psychiatry
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
October 15, 2025
First Posted
October 20, 2025
Study Start
March 1, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
July 31, 2029
Study Completion (Estimated)
July 31, 2029
Last Updated
October 22, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-10
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
Study protocol and informed consent form