We are no longer recruiting participants for this study.
About the Study
The purpose of this study is to investigate if the use of imaginal exposure therapy can be helpful in reducing eating-related anxiety. Participants will come to the EAT Lab & Clinic where they will be asked to complete a brief screening, brief education about imaginal exposure therapy, and questionnaires to determine whether they can continue to participate in the therapy portion of the study. Participants will work with a therapist to address eating related fears and will receive up to 10 free sessions of therapy.
Frequently Asked Question
Who can participate?
Anyone who has or has had an eating disorder or eating/weight related fears can participate. You must be able to come to the University of Louisville. If you are not local or near Louisville, KY, please see the Online Imaginal Exposure Therapy Study page (you can participate from anywhere in the world).
Where does the study take place?
This study takes place in Louisville, KY at the University of Louisville in the Life Sciences Building Room 312 in a specially designed, private, therapy room.
What is the duration of the study?
Participants will be asked to complete an imaginal exposure therapy session one time per week for a total of 8-10 weeks (between 8-10 therapy sessions). Each therapy session will last 50-70 minutes total, and each session will be videotaped and audiotaped. The initial screening will take place in the first session. The questionnaires will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. During the first therapy session, participants will be given education about imaginal exposure therapy that will last approximately 20 minutes.
Can I participate if I already have a therapist?
Yes! We encourage you to continuing working with your current therapist and treat this study as though it is additional therapy. Because this therapy is new, it will likely be different from what you are working on with your current therapist.
Who will be my therapist?
Either Dr. Levinson, who is an expert in exposure therapies, or a trained graduate student in clinical psychology who is supervised by Dr. Levinson will be your therapist.
What are the benefits of participation?
Exposure therapy is beneficial for the reduction of anxiety, and is an expected benefit of participation. The benefits of this study include a potential decrease in anxiety and eating disorder symptoms, as well as free therapy sessions valued up to $1750.
What else might I be asked to do?
As part of this study we are partnering with the U of L NILCAMP (http://www.nilcamp.net/) lab to use neuroimaging to test how the brain changes in response to exposure therapy. If you participate in the in-vivo study you will be able to be a part of the fmri study. This will involve getting two brain scans (at the beginning and end of therapy). You will be reimbursed 100 dollars for your participation in this part of the study.
Who can I contact for more information?
Those interested can contact the study principal investigator, Cheri Levinson at 502-852-7710 or [email protected].
Potential participants can also email [email protected] or call the lab at 502-852-2568. Or please use the contact form below to contact us.
Anyone who has or has had an eating disorder or eating/weight related fears can participate. You must be able to come to the University of Louisville. If you are not local or near Louisville, KY, please see the Online Imaginal Exposure Therapy Study page (you can participate from anywhere in the world).
Where does the study take place?
This study takes place in Louisville, KY at the University of Louisville in the Life Sciences Building Room 312 in a specially designed, private, therapy room.
What is the duration of the study?
Participants will be asked to complete an imaginal exposure therapy session one time per week for a total of 8-10 weeks (between 8-10 therapy sessions). Each therapy session will last 50-70 minutes total, and each session will be videotaped and audiotaped. The initial screening will take place in the first session. The questionnaires will take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. During the first therapy session, participants will be given education about imaginal exposure therapy that will last approximately 20 minutes.
Can I participate if I already have a therapist?
Yes! We encourage you to continuing working with your current therapist and treat this study as though it is additional therapy. Because this therapy is new, it will likely be different from what you are working on with your current therapist.
Who will be my therapist?
Either Dr. Levinson, who is an expert in exposure therapies, or a trained graduate student in clinical psychology who is supervised by Dr. Levinson will be your therapist.
What are the benefits of participation?
Exposure therapy is beneficial for the reduction of anxiety, and is an expected benefit of participation. The benefits of this study include a potential decrease in anxiety and eating disorder symptoms, as well as free therapy sessions valued up to $1750.
What else might I be asked to do?
As part of this study we are partnering with the U of L NILCAMP (http://www.nilcamp.net/) lab to use neuroimaging to test how the brain changes in response to exposure therapy. If you participate in the in-vivo study you will be able to be a part of the fmri study. This will involve getting two brain scans (at the beginning and end of therapy). You will be reimbursed 100 dollars for your participation in this part of the study.
Who can I contact for more information?
Those interested can contact the study principal investigator, Cheri Levinson at 502-852-7710 or [email protected].
Potential participants can also email [email protected] or call the lab at 502-852-2568. Or please use the contact form below to contact us.
