Relating Therapy for the Anorexic Voice: Exploratory Case Series v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Relating Therapy for the Anorexic Voice: Exploratory Case Series (R2AV)
IRAS ID
318551
Contact name
Mark Hayward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13697342
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Anorexia Nervosa (AN) can have a serious and severe impact on individuals and those around them. Recommended psychological interventions are typically not found to be helpful by people with AN who often have difficulties for a long time, and have regular periods of relapse. Due to this, there have been calls for new therapeutic approaches.
Research suggests that voice hearing experiences are common in those with AN and that over time, a relationship is formed with what is often called the “Anorexic Voice” (AV) or the “Eating Disorder Voice” (EDV). Individuals’ beliefs about and ways of relating with their AV may be a factor in the development and maintenance of AN.
Our research aims to explore the potential for a targeted psychological therapy called Relating Therapy to reduce the distressed associated with voice hearing experiences within the context of Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Relating Therapy targets the negative relating that can maintain voice-related distress and teaches assertiveness as an alternative response.
We aim to recruit up to twelve participants with AN, who have reported distressing experiences of an AV to be in our study. All participants will be offered Relating Therapy over a period of 24 weeks. Participants will be asked to complete different questionnaires before, during and after receiving the intervention to help us better understand the impact of receiving this therapy.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SC/0413
Date of REC Opinion
15 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion