Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) for Children and Adolescents With Anorexia Nervosa and Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

NCT07893145 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: SSCM-YOUTH
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study evaluates an adaptation of Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) for children and adolescents aged 13-17 years with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa receiving outpatient treatment at the Stockholm Centre for Eating Disorders. SSCM may be offered when other recommended treatments, such as Family-Based Treatment (FBT) or Enhanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT-E), are not considered suitable. The primary aim is to evaluate the feasibility and adherence of SSCM for children and adolescents, including treatment completion and attendance. The study will also explore preliminary treatment effects, including changes in eating disorder symptoms, weight, psychological symptoms, and functioning. Participants and their caregivers will complete assessments before, during, and after treatment, with a follow-up three months after treatment completion. Patients and caregivers will also be invited to participate in qualitative interviews at the end of treatment to explore their experiences of SSCM.

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa; Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

Keywords

Specialist Supportive Clinical Management; SSCM; Eating Disorders; Feasibility; Psychotherapy; Children and Adolescents

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Treatment completion

  Proportion of participants who complete the SSCM-Youth treatment as planned. Treatment completion will be used as a primary indicator of the feasibility of delivering SSCM-Youth to children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa.

  From the start of SSCM-Youth to treatment completion, approximately week 25 for the standard treatment, or week 40 for severe conditions (earlier termination is possible if the patient reports no remaining eating disorder symptoms).

• Treatment adherence

  Number and proportion of planned SSCM-Youth treatment sessions attended by participants.

  From the start of SSCM-Youth to treatment completion, approximately week 25 for the standard treatment, or week 40 for severe conditions (earlier termination is possible if the patient reports no remaining eating disorder symptoms).

• Patients' and Parents' or Legal Guardians' Experiences of SSCM

  Qualitative semi-structured interviews exploring patients' and their parents' or legal guardians' experiences of SSCM, including helpful aspects, potential challenges, and possibilities for improvement. Interview data will be analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

  At treatment completion, after approximately 25 weeks for standard treatment or 40 weeks for patients with severe conditions and comorbidity. Treatment may end earlier if the patient reports no remaining eating disorder symptoms.

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Change in body mass index (BMI)

  Assessments: 1) at treatment week 1 (baseline), 2) at week 13 for standard treatment, or week 20 for severe conditions, 3) at treatment completion, approximately week 25 for standard, or week 40 for severe, and 4) 3 months after treatment completion.

• Change in eating disorder psychopathology

  Assessments: 1) at treatment week 1 (baseline), 2) at week 13 for standard treatment, or week 20 for severe conditions, 3) at treatment completion, approximately week 25 for standard, or week 40 for severe, and 4) 3 months after treatment completion.

• Change in Eating Disorder-Related Psychosocial Impairment (CIA)

  Assessments: 1) at treatment week 1 (baseline), 2) at week 13 for standard treatment, or week 20 for severe conditions, 3) at treatment completion, approximately week 25 for standard, or week 40 for severe, and 4) 3 months after treatment completion.

• Change in Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms (RCADS)

  Assessments: 1) at treatment week 1 (baseline), 3) at treatment completion, approximately week 25 for standard, or week 40 for severe, and 4) 3 months after treatment completion.

• Change in Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (DERS-16)

  Assessments: 1) at treatment week 1 (baseline), 3) at treatment completion, approximately week 25 for standard, or week 40 for severe, and 4) 3 months after treatment completion. Only patients.

Other Outcomes (4)

• Parent-Reported Treatment Credibility and Expectancy (CEQ)

  Assessments: 1) at baseline, i.e. treatment week 1. Only parents.

• Parent-Reported Treatment Satisfaction (TSS-2)

  Assessments: 3) at treatment completion, approximately week 25 for the standard program, or week 40 for the program for severe, and 4) 3 months after treatment completion. Only parents.

• Brief, repeated assessment of eating disorder symptoms

  From treatment initiation to treatment completion, every fifth week during ongoing treatment (i.e., weeks 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35, as applicable), excluding baseline and treatment completion assessments.

Study Arms (1)

SSCM-Youth

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM) adapted for children and adolescents, delivered as outpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa.

Behavioral: Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for Children and Adolescents (SSCM-Youth)

Interventions

Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for Children and Adolescents (SSCM-Youth) BEHAVIORAL

SSCM-Youth is an adaptation of Specialist Supportive Clinical Management for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa. The treatment is delivered in an outpatient setting and typically consists of approximately 25 sessions, or 40 sessions for patients with more severe conditions, held once or twice weekly. It combines clinical management of the eating disorder with supportive psychotherapy and includes monitoring of physical health. Parents or caregivers are involved when appropriate. Therapists are trained in SSCM and receive supervision.

SSCM-Youth

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Age 12-17 years.
• Diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or atypical anorexia nervosa.
• Insufficient improvement following Family-Based Treatment (FBT) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or inability to initiate FBT or CBT.
• Eligible for outpatient treatment.
• Informed consent provided according to applicable procedures.

You may not qualify if:

• Medical or psychiatric condition requiring a level of care that precludes outpatient treatment.
• Insufficient ability to understand Swedish or cognitive limitations that preclude participation in the treatment or completion of study questionnaires and assessments.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Karolinska Institutet: lead

Study Sites (1)

Stockholm Centre for Eating Disorders

Stockholm, Sweden

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anorexia Nervosa; Feeding and Eating Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Study Officials

• Martina Wolf-Arehult, PhD

  Karolinska Institutet

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Helena Erneroth-Hanell, Other

CONTACT

+46812349322; helena.erneroth-hanell@regionstockholm.se

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 9, 2026
• First Posted: October 23, 2026
• Study Start: May 15, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Last Updated: October 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

SE (1)