YoungES[S]PRIT: YoungES[S]PRIT: Investigation of the efficacy of an internet-based eating disorder prevention program in high school students

Contact: PD Dr. Stephanie Bauer stephanie.bauer(at)med.uni-heidelberg.de

Project management: K. Lindenberg, S. Bauer, M. Mößner, & H. Kordy in cooperation with the Psychosocial Counseling Center of the Diakonisches Werk Heilbronn

Eating disorders are widespread among pupils. The chances of recovery of less than 50% , as well as the low utilization of therapy offers are problematic. However, a short interval between the onset of the disease and the beginning of therapy is prognostically favorable. The project aims at the early detection of eating disorders and their prevention through a timely, staged intervention using an internet-based prevention program (YoungEs[s]prit). The program includes five components of varying intensity that allow support which is tailored to the individual needs of the participants.

To prove the efficacy of this prevention program, a randomized controlled trial will be conducted, whereby the control group will not have access to the YoungEs[s]prit prevention program.

The main outcome criterion is the development of an eating disorder (incidence rate); secondary outcome criteria will be severity of eating disorder symptoms and utilization of treatment services. Measurement will be conducted by using a validated eating disorder questionnaire (SEED). It is expected that the intervention group will have at most half the incidence rate of the control group one year after the start of the program; in addition, eating disorder symptoms should be less severe and a higher utilization of therapy services should be reported over the observation period of one year.

Literature

Lindenberg, K. & Kordy, H. (2015). Wirksamkeit eines gestuften, Internetvermittelten Ansatzes zur Prävention von Essstörungen bei Schülern der 7. bis 10. Klasse. Kindheit und Entwicklung, 24(1), 55-63.