Efficacy of the ECHOMANTRA Individual Online Intervention to Support Recovery From Eating Disorders in Adolescent Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION

ECHOMANTRA supports both patients and carers as an adjunct to treatment in Eating Disorders (Eds).

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the efficacy, acceptability, and feasibility of ECHOMANTRA as an add-on to treatment-as-usual (TAU) for adolescent ED patients and their carers, using an individualised online format.

METHOD: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial compared two parallel groups (TAU + ECHOMANTRA vs. TAU alone) with 108 patient-carer dyads.

RESULTS

Patients in both groups showed improvements in BMI, ED symptoms, emotional state, quality of life, confidence in change, obsessiveness, and perfectionism, with larger effects in the ECHOMANTRA + TAU group. Carers in both groups improved in expressed emotion, accommodation, perceived ED impact, and emotional well-being, with greater effects in the ECHOMANTRA + TAU group. Only carers in this group improved in caregiver skills. Completion rates were high (patients: 87.04%, carers: 81.84%), with strong satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

ECHOMANTRA is an effective, feasible online intervention that enhances outcomes for adolescent ED patients and carers when added to standard care.