COMPASS Study: Compassion and motivation in anorexia nervosa
Research type
Research Study
Full title
COMPASS Study: A study to examine the use of Virtual Reality (VR) to enhance self-compassion and motivation in a group of patients with Anorexia Nervosa.
IRAS ID
238641
Contact name
Viviana Aya
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King´s College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background: The National Institute of Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines highlighted the limited research into treatment for anorexia nervosa and concluded the need of new therapeutic approaches for this group of patients. The use of new technologies such as types of virtual reality may have promise for this work. \n \nAim: Examine the feasibility and acceptability of using virtual reality (VR) to enhance motivation and self compassion in a group of patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN).\n\nParticipants: A total of 15 participants (N=15) with a DSM 5 diagnosis of anorexia nervosa (AN).\n \nParticipants will be recruited from South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. The medical team from the trust will screen the records to find potentially eligible participants. Informed consent will be taken by researchers at the NHS site.\n\nLocation and duration: The study will take place in England. Total duration of the study will be 2 years including data analysis and writing up of results. This study along with another study will be part of a part-time PhD programme.\n\nPlan of investigation: Study to examine the feasibility and acceptability of using avatar image-based virtual reality to enhance motivation and self-compassion in a group of patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). The study involves 2 stages as follows:\n \n-Stage 1) Assessment of the process of patient´s creation of two computerised animated talking characters (avatars) (i.e. “Anorexic avatar” & “Healthy avatar”) during 2 sessions (45 min each). \n\n-Stage 2) Assessment of the process of patient´s interaction with the computerised Virtual Reality (VR) avatar during 4-6 sessions (45 min each).
REC name
London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0168
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion