Exposure Therapy Study In Adults With Eating Disorders

The current proposal will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Exposure Therapy for anorexia nervosa (AN) Spectrum Disorders (Exp-AN), an innovative treatment rooted in principles of inhibitory learning. Exp-AN will target anxiety about both eating and weight gain by combining in vivo (i.e., in real life) and imaginal (i.e., mental) exposure in novel ways (e.g., eating a feared food while listening to a recording describing fears about weight gain). The central hypothesis is that Exp-AN will effectively target anxiety related to eating and weight gain via inhibitory learning, and improve treatment outcomes. The investigator will test two aims: Aim 1. Evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Exp-AN. Hypothesis 1.1: Exp-AN will be feasible, with satisfactory levels of recruitment (≥50%) and retention (≥75%). Hypothesis 1.2: Participants will engage in Exp-AN, as measured by completion of the five treatment modules (≥80%) and therapy homework (≥60%). Hypothesis 1.3: Participants will rate all five Exp-AN modules as acceptable. Hypothesis 1.4: Exp-AN will result in increases in BMI and decreases in AN symptomatology. Aim 2. Investigate Exp-AN's mechanisms of action, and if mechanisms are associated with positive outcomes. Hypothesis 2.1: Exp-AN will result in decreases in anxiety between sessions, decreases in anxious beliefs, and increases in anxiety tolerance. Hypothesis 2.2: Changes in anxiety ratings, anxious beliefs, and tolerance of anxiety will be associated with weight gain and reduced AN symptomatology.