Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT06759402

Family-based Telemedicine vs. Inpatient Anorexia Nervosa Treatment (FIAT)

The FIAT study is funded by the Innovationsfonds of the German Ministry of Health via the DLR Project Management Agency. The study will be conducted in up to 21 hospitals across Germany and in collaboration with 10 German public health insurance companies. The primary aim of this study is to compare Family-Based Treatment delivered via telehealth (FBT) with inpatient multimodal therapy (IMT) with respect to treatment outcomes and health economic data. The results of the study will serve as a basis for the decision on the inclusion of FBT in the German S3 guidelines and the future reimbursement of FBT by public health insurances in Germany.

Recruiting

Interested in participating?

Request Info

Key information

Age range

8 year–17 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • restrictive and bulimic subtypes of anorexia nervosa (ICD-10: F50.00; F50.01)
  • inpatient treatment indication according to S3 guideline
  • weight < 3. BMI-percentile or
  • weight <10. percentile and psychiatric comorbidity/rapid weight loss/lack of weight gain during outpatient treatment over last three month
  • planned inpatient treatment
  • insured with one of the participating health insurance companies
  • stable internet connection

Exclusion criteria

  • weight <67%mBMI
  • acute self harm or danger to others
  • acute psychosis or suicidal tendencies
  • current substance abuse
  • child abuse or domestic violence in the family
  • insured with other health insurance company
  • judicial placement order for inpatient treatment
  • known, currently existing child protection problems or proceedings by the family court

Treatment and study plan

Family Based Treatment

Behavioral

FBT is an intensive, manualized therapy in which the parents of those affected are closely involved in a resource-oriented manner by FBT-certified therapists. FBT takes place in 3 phases: in phase 1, the parents take responsibility for their child's weight gain. Phase 2 involves the gradual transfer of responsibility for eating back to the patient. Phase 3 focuses on individual issues of the children and adolescents, e.g. catching up on important developmental steps missed due to the illness.

Inpatient multimodal therapy

Behavioral

comprehensive, patient-oriented and multidisciplinary approach to address eating disorders following the S3 joint German treatment guidelines in specialized hospitals. Includes individual psychotherapy, family sessions, body-oriented therapy, nutritional counseling, group therapy sessions, relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, and skills training. Targeted weight gain per week is at least 500g.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in %mBMI

    Time frame: 12 months

    The %mBMI is calcualted based on bodyweight and height, measured by the study team. Change is the difference between the baseline and 12 month %mBMI.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Specific psychopathology for anorexia nervosa

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the eating disorder examination-questionnaire (EDE-Q). The scores of the EDE-Q are presented on a scale between 0 and 6, where higher scores mean higher presence of symptoms.

  2. Compulsive exercise

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the compulsive exercise test (CET). Items are rated on a 6-point Likert type scale from 0 (never true) to 5 (always true), with higher scores correspond with stronger symptoms.

  3. Depression

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the Revised Children's Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS). Scores are presented between 0 (never) to 3 (always). The total score is converted into a T-score. Higher T-scores indicate higher presence of symptoms.

  4. Occurrence of adverse events

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the modified over aggression scale (MOAS) in addition with a set serious adverse events list. Higher scores on the MOAS indicate more severe cases of aggressive behaviors.

  5. Menstrual status

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by structural interview.

  6. Medication

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by structural interview.

  7. Motivation for change

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the anorexia nervosa stages of change questionnaire (ANSOCQ). Each item can scored between 1 and 5. Higher scores indicate higher levels of motivation.

  8. Insight into illness

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    One item "On a scale of 1 to 10, how severe would you rate yourself as suffering from anorexia?" where a higher score indicates more insight into the illness.

  9. Change in eating disorder quality of life

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the eating disorder quality of life (EDQOL). Each item can be scored on a 6-point scale ranging from 0 ("never") to 5 ("always"). Higher scores indicate lower quality of life.

  10. Change in quality of life

    Time frame: 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the EQ-5D-Y-5L. Items are scored on 5 levels ("no problems" to "extreme problems") except one, which is scored on a vertical visual analogue scale (endpoints are "the best health you can imagine" and "the worst health you can imagine"). Higher scores indicate more problems.

  11. Emotional and financial burden on the legal guardians

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the caregiver strain questionnaire (CGSQ-SF11). Items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0= not at all, 4= very much). Higher scores indicate greater strain.

  12. Financial burden on the legal guardians

    Time frame: 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by a structured questionnaire about financial strain during treatment. The first question ("Has your child's treatment put a financial strain on you?") is scored on a 4-point Likert scale (1= not at all; 4= extremely). A higher score indicates greater financial strain. The second question ("Have you had any loss of earnings due to your child's illness?") is binary scored (yes/no) and follows up the "yes" condition with the question "how many days were you not able to work?".

  13. Utilization and costs of healthcare services

    Time frame: 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by the Client Service Receipt Inventory (CSRI). Assessing the use of various services in the respective units (e.g., days or hours).

  14. Satisfaction with treatment for patients

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months)

    Measured by an adapted version of the treatment satisfaction questionnaire by Lindstedt et al. (2020). The following topics are assessed and scored:

    • Helpfulness of therapy-elements. Higher scores indicate less helpfulness
    • Patient-therapist-interaction. Higher scores indicate less positive experiences of interaction.
    • Treatment goals importance. Higher scores indicate less importance of proposed treatment goals.
    • Achievement of treatment goals. Higher scores indicate less achievement of proposed treatment goals.
    • Change in symptoms (before treatment vs. after treatment). Higher scores indicate more positive change in symptoms.
  15. Satisfaction with treatment for parents (Likert scale items)

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months)

    Measured by an adapted version of the treatment satisfactory questionnaire by Krautter & Lock (2004). The questions assess the subjective effectiveness of the treatment and treatment satisfaction. Items are scored on all topics on a 5-point Likert scale (0= very ineffective; 4= very effective). Higher scores indicate higher effectiveness. Additionally, the following questions are scored on a 5-point Likert scale (0= not at all; 4= yes, totally) :

    • "Do you agree that the team that treated your child is competent?"
    • "Would you recommend this treatment?"
  16. Satisfaction with treatment for parents (Free-text items)

    Time frame: At the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months)

    Measured by an adapted version of the treatment satisfactory questionnaire by Krautter & Lock (2004). The questions assess the subjective effectiveness of the treatment and treatment satisfaction. Two open questions ("What did you find helpful in this treatment?"; "What did you not find helpful in this treatment?") can be answered via free-text.

  17. Suicidality

    Time frame: At the beginning of the study, at the end of treatment (FBT Arm-average: 10 Months; IMT Arm-average: 4 Months; both up to 12 months), 6 months after baseline and 12 months after baseline.

    Measured by asking first whether any suicidal thoughts or behaviors were present in the past 28 days (yes/no). The yes condition is followed up by several questions assessing the presence (yes/no) of:

    • passive suicidal thoughts.
    • active suicidal thoughts.
    • active suicidal thoughts with plan.
    • active suicidal thoughts with plan and preparation.
    • active suicidal thoughts with plan and intention to act upon it.
    • suicidal behaviors, stopped by oneself.
    • suicidal behaviors, stopped by others.
    • suicidal behaviors, carried out, light physical damage.
    • suicidal behaviors, carried out, medium physical damage.
    • suicidal behaviors, carried out, severe physical damage.
    • suicidal behaviors, carried out, death.

    Both children and parents are asked. The children answer for their own thoughts/behaviors, the parents for their child's thoughts/behaviors.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Piet E. Adler, M.Sc.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+4930 450 566 597

Verena K. Haas, Dr. oec. troph.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+4930 450 566 399

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Other

Collaborators

  • AOK Baden-Württemberg
  • AOK Niedersachsen
  • BARMER
  • BIG-direkt
  • Bahn-BKK
  • Bielefeld University
  • DAK Gesundheit
  • Medicalnetworks CJ GmbH & Co.KG
  • Meine Krankenkasse
  • Mobil Krankenkasse
  • OFFIS - Institut für Informatik
  • Prof. Daniel Le Grange, UCSF
  • Techniker Krankenkasse
  • mhplus

Registry information

Acronym: FIAT

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jan 6, 2025
Registry last updated
Feb 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.