NCT03610451

Floatation-REST and Anorexia Nervosa

Influence of Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulation Therapy) on Anorexia Nervosa

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 68 (actual)
• Sponsor: Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Inc. · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 13 Years – 64 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study proposed in this protocol aims to document the effect of Floatation-REST (reduced environmental stimulation therapy) on symptoms of anorexia nervosa.

Detailed description

Flotation-REST (reduced environmental stimulation therapy) alters the balance of sensory input by systematically attenuating signals from the visual, auditory, thermal, tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. Previous research has shown that this heightens interoceptive awareness and reduces anxiety in clinically anxious populations. Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by elevated anxiety, distorted body image, and disrupted interoception, raising the question of whether floatation therapy might positively impact these symptoms. A recent safety study found that Floatation-REST was well tolerated by individuals weight-restored outpatients with current or prior AN. Additionally, participants reported improvements in affective state and body image disturbance following floating, raising the possibility that this intervention might be investigated for clinical benefit in more acutely ill cases. The primary aim of this study is to begin to examine the effect of Floatation-REST on body image disturbance in inpatients with AN. Secondary aims including determining whether Floatation-REST has an impact on anxiety, emotional distress, eating disorder severity, functional ability, and interoception.

Conditions

• Anorexia Nervosa

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Floatation-REST plus usual care	Individuals will receive Floatation-REST plus usual care. Floating creates an environment with minimal visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, and thermal input to the brain. The float rooms are lightproof and soundproof. A high concentration Epsom salt water solution allows individuals to effortlessly float on their back while remaining completely still, reducing both proprioceptive and tactile input to the brain. The temperature of the water is calibrated to the temperature of the skin (\~94° F) and the temperature of the air is calibrated to the temperature of the water, making it difficult to discern the boundary between air and water, thus reducing thermal input to the brain while minimizing the need for thermoregulation of the skin.
BEHAVIORAL	Usual care	Individuals will receive usual care on the inpatient unit of the Laureate Eating Disorders Program.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-03-16
• Primary completion: 2022-03-01
• Completion: 2024-10-01
• First posted: 2018-08-01
• Last updated: 2023-10-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States