Australian Clinical Trials

Broad Health Condition Mental Health

Specific Health ConditionEating disorders

Trial FocusTreatment

Recruitment Details

Recruitment status
Completed

Recruitment State
VIC

Hospital
St Vincent's Hospital (Melbourne) Ltd - Fitzroy
Austin Health - Austin Hospital - Heidelberg
The Melbourne Clinic - Richmond

Postcode
3065 - Fitzroy
3084 - Heidelberg
3121 - Richmond

Anticipated date of last participant enrolment30/06/2018

Phase of TrialNot Applicable

Has the study received ethics approval?Approved

Trial summary

Eating Disorders Victoria (EDV), the Austin Hospital and St Vincent’s Hospital are partnering to develop, pilot and evaluate a peer mentoring program for people with eating disorders exiting hospital programs. This program is intended to address a service gap for people who require additional support to sustain recovery while living independently. It uses a peer support model, harnessing the experience of people who have recovered from eating disorders, with regular de-briefing and supervision. The aims of this research are to evaluate the outcomes of the pilot program on both mentees and mentors.
Patients leaving the Austin Hospital or Melbourne Clinic, or tranisitioning to/from BETRS day program will be linked with an EDV peer mentor who has recovered from an eating disorder. They will participate in a semi-structured mentoring program with regular activities and one-on-one mentoring (3-hour, fortnightly sessions). These sessions will run over 6 months. In addition, participants (mentees and mentors) will undertake feedback and de-briefing sessions throughout the program.

Key inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria for mentees include:
- Transitioning out of the Body Image & Eating Disorders Treatment & Recovery Service (BETRS) inpatient program at the Austin Hospital or transitioning in/out of the BETRS outpatient/day patient program; or the Melbourne Clinic
- Current diagnosis of an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder or eating disorder not otherwise specified) according to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
- Currently actively receiving treatment

Inclusion criteria for mentors include:
- Recovery from an eating disorder for a minimum of 2 years

Minimum age18 Years

GenderBoth males and females

Can Healthy volunteers participate? Yes

Key exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria for mentors and mentees include anyone who is at serious risk of harm to oneself or another, as determined by the clinical team, for example, individuals at high risk of suicide.