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Title: Realizing the untapped promise of single‐session interventions for eating disorders
Abstract Objective

Multilevel treatment barriers prevent up to 80% of individuals experiencing eating disorders (EDs) from accessing care. This treatment gap creates a critical need to identify interventions that are accessible, easily completable, and optimized for effectiveness by targeting core mechanisms linked to ED onset and maintenance. We propose single‐session interventions (SSIs) as a promising path toward catalyzing innovation in the development of accessible, effective ED interventions. SSIs are structured programs that intentionally involve one encounter with a program or provider; they may serve as stand‐alone or adjunctive clinical supports. All SSIs are built to acknowledge that any session might be someone's last—and that any single session can nonetheless yield meaningful clinical benefit.

 Method

We define SSIs, summarize research supporting their utility for ED symptoms and other mental health problems, and recommend future directions for work in this domain.

 Results

Single‐session interventions may hold promise to reduce some ED symptoms and risk factors, including restrictive eating and negative body image. Steps toward realizing this promise include (1) testing whether existing evidence‐based SSIs (e.g., for depression) can also reduce EDs, risk factors, and symptoms; (2) developing novel SSIs that target modifiable ED risk factors and symptoms largely unaddressed by SSIs, such as purging and binge eating; (3) studying diverse implementation pathways; (4) capitalizing on SSIs' transdiagnostic utility to broaden funding opportunities; and (5) educating ED researchers and clinicians about SSIs.

 Discussion

Understanding the strengths and limits of mechanism‐targeted SSIs for ED‐related problems could be a low‐risk, high‐reward avenue toward reducing EDs at scale.

 Public Significance

Most individuals experiencing EDs never access any form of treatment, creating an urgent need to identify ED interventions built to overcome barriers to engaging with care. This Forum article introduces SSIs as a promising path to rapidly developing and testing accessible, evidence‐based ED supports; supplementing existing ED treatment models; and reducing the individual, familial, and societal burdens of EDs at scale.

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NSF-PAR ID:
10398548
Author(s) / Creator(s):
 ;  ;  
Publisher / Repository:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Date Published:
Journal Name:
International Journal of Eating Disorders
Volume:
56
Issue:
5
ISSN:
0276-3478
Page Range / eLocation ID:
p. 853-863
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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