Project 466595

Eating disorders (EDs) are life-threatening mental illnesses with serious health consequences. Despite having the highest mortality rate of any mental disorder, individuals with EDs are far less likely to access treatment compared to those with other mental health problems due to various barriers (e.g., long wait-lists, scarcity of treatment centres, low motivation for change, high rates of treatment dropout). The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these issues, with reports of increased rates of EDs, longer wait-times, and decreased motivation for ED recovery. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a psychological intervention method that is effective in addressing many of the treatment issues associated with EDs including resistance to change and treatment dropout. Furthermore, brief MI interventions, administered prior to the onset of formal ED treatment, have been shown to improve overall clinical outcomes. Mobile-phone apps have been suggested as a cost-effective way to deliver such interventions. Despite their potential, there have yet to be any studies examining app-based MI to target EDs. The following proposal aims to pilot test and examine the feasibility and acceptability of MI-Coach, a widely-available MI mobile app, for individuals on waitlists for ED treatment. Measures of clinical profiles, ED severity, and motivation for change will be examined before and after a one-month use of MI-Coach. In addition, participants perceptions of the apps ease of use, perceived usefulness, and quality will be examined. This study has the potential to transform ED service delivery while simultaneously providing tangible psychological support to its participants.