Exploring Therapists' Approaches to Treating Eating Disorders to Inform User-Centric App Design: Web-Based Interview...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Digital interventions for mild to moderate eating disorders (EDs) show potential but face low therapist recommendation rates.
• Existing apps often lack engagement, user satisfaction, and therapeutic depth, hindering effective client support.
• Barriers include safety concerns, data privacy, and perceived ineffectiveness compared to traditional therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore community-based therapists' perspectives on current eating disorder (ED) treatment approaches.
• To understand how digital interventions, specifically apps, could integrate into the ED treatment pathway.
• To gather therapist insights on app design and content for optimal client engagement and therapeutic benefit.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured web-based interviews were conducted with 12 eating disorder (ED) and mental health therapists in the UK.
• Interviews covered treatment approaches, client engagement strategies, and therapist views on potential ED apps.
• A structured thematic analysis, validated by two researchers, was used to interpret the data.

Main Results:

• Therapists utilize flexible, person-centered approaches beyond traditional CBT for complex ED cases.
• Engagement and motivational strategies employed by therapists could inform app development.
• Key concerns for app integration include safeguarding, data privacy, and the potential for triggering content.

Conclusions:

• Clinically safe, evidence-based ED apps can enhance continuity of care and client self-management.
• Integrative, adaptive therapeutic approaches and engagement strategies can be replicated in app design.
• Apps offer cautious optimism for ED treatment, complementing therapy across all stages, despite limitations like replicating the therapeutic relationship.