NCT07007481

Purrble's Soothing Touch for Eating Disorders and Autism

SOOTH-ED: Purrble's Soothing Touch for Eating Disorders and Autism

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Sponsor: King's College London · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to explore the potential therapeutic benefits of the Purrble intervention, a tangible device designed to assist with in-situ emotion regulation, for individuals on the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) Eating Disorders outpatient service waiting list. By examining its effects on emotion regulation, sensory sensitivity, depression, anxiety, and motivation for treatment engagement, the study seeks to offer empirical evidence on the efficacy of the Purrble as a supportive tool while patients are on the waiting list for formal outpatient treatment.

Conditions

• Eating Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Purrble	The intervention takes the form of an interactive plush toy, which was co-designed with children to support in-the-moment soothing. The device is framed as an anxious creature, in need of care and attention when it feels distressed. This distress is indicated by a simulated heartbeat using embedded electronics to produce vibration patterns of i) frantic and anxious, to ii) slow, steady and relaxed. When held, the device emits a frantic heartbeat which can be slowed by stroking movements registered by embedded sensors. Once the device has been "soothed" for long enough, the heartbeat transitions into a purring vibration indicating a relaxed state. This transition can be achieved in under 1 minute but is dependent on the device-human interaction.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-02-08
• Primary completion: 2025-10-01
• Completion: 2025-11-30
• First posted: 2025-06-05
• Last updated: 2025-06-05

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom