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Treatment Uptake Chatbot for Eating Disorders
NCT04806165 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental illnesses associated with high morbidity and mortality, clinical impairment, and comorbid psychopathology. Although evidence-based treatments for EDs have been established, the treatment gap is wide. Indeed, \<20% of individuals with EDs receive treatment. There is need for a novel solution not only to identify individuals with EDs but also to encourage mental health services use and to address treatment barriers. This study aims to implement a conversational agent or "chatbot" that is optimized to increase mental health services use among individuals with EDs through such features as: 1) education on the seriousness and consequences of EDs; 2) engaging the user in motivational interviewing to overcome barriers to care; 3) providing a personalized recommendation for seeking intervention; 4) repeated check-ins with the user to encourage follow-up with care. This study will utilize a randomized optimization trial with adults who have completed screening on the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website and screen positive for an ED but are not in treatment to determine chatbot feasibility and to generate data on the effect of the chatbot on motivation for treatment and mental health services use. This trial will employ the Multiphase Optimization Strategy framework, using a 2\^4 full factorial design, to randomly assign participants to a combination of the four proposed intervention components (n=16 conditions) to isolate the active ingredients.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- BEHAVIORAL Motivational Interviewing
- BEHAVIORAL Repeated Administration
- BEHAVIORAL Personalized Recommendation
- BEHAVIORAL Core Modules Only
- BEHAVIORAL Motivational Interviewing, Personalized Recommendation, Repeated Administration
Study Locations (1)
Missouri
- Washington University School of Medicine — St Louis
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 205 participants |
| Start Date | 2021-03-09 |
| Est. Completion | 2022-05-09 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT04806165
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT04806165 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 205 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is Washington University School of Medicine, which has 1,036 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Eating Disorders appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 5 interventions — of which Motivational Interviewing is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT04806165 reports 1 study location spanning 1 distinct geographic area — top geographies include Missouri. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT04806165 about?
NCT04806165 is a clinical study titled "Treatment Uptake Chatbot for Eating Disorders". Eating disorders (EDs) are serious mental illnesses associated with high morbidity and mortality, clinical impairment, and comorbid psychopathology. Although evidence-based treatments for EDs have been established, the treatment gap is wide. Indeed, \<20% of individuals with EDs receive treatment. T...
What is the current status of trial NCT04806165?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 205 participants. The study started on 2021-03-09. Estimated completion is 2022-05-09.
What conditions does trial NCT04806165 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Eating Disorders. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT04806165?
The interventions under investigation include: Motivational Interviewing (BEHAVIORAL), Repeated Administration (BEHAVIORAL), Personalized Recommendation (BEHAVIORAL), Core Modules Only (BEHAVIORAL), Motivational Interviewing, Personalized Recommendation, Repeated Administration (BEHAVIORAL). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT04806165?
This trial is sponsored by Washington University School of Medicine, which has 1,036 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT04806165 being conducted?
This trial has 1 study location across Missouri. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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