We Can: A web-based skills package for carers of people with ANv1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
We Can – A randomised controlled trial of a web-based intervention for carers of individuals with anorexia nervosa
IRAS ID
187946
Contact name
Ulrike Schmidt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Carers of people with anorexia nervosa play an important role in recovery, but often feel ill equipped to effectively support their loved one. Especially for carers of individuals above the age of 18 there is often little support available. This lack of knowledge and skills, potentially leads to problematic carer behaviours, such as high levels of expressed emotion or accommodation to the illness, which may worsen or maintain the illness. It also takes a toll on carers’ own mental health. Therefore, there is a need for interventions that support carers in their role. We have developed and evaluated We Can, a web-based skills training programme developed for carers of people with AN. It is based on a systemic cognitive behavioural approach and it is the first web-based intervention for carers of individuals with anorexia nervosa. It specifically targets unhelpful carer behaviours and attitudes and also addresses carers’ own needs. In two previous randomised controlled trials, We Can significantly reduced carer intrusiveness, negative experiences of caregiving and the impact of starvation and guilt. In addition, decreases of perceived intrusiveness of the carer by the individual with AN were associated with a large effect size. This study aims to investigate a) the efficacy of a web-based skills package (We Can) to support carers of individuals with anorexia nervosa and b) look at how different levels of support with the intervention may affect the results.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0885
Date of REC Opinion
1 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion