Therapist‐guided smartphone‐based aftercare for inpatients with severe anorexia nervosa (SMART‐AN): Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Inpatient treatment for patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) is recommended in extreme or severe cases after failure of outpatient treatment and is highly effective. However, a number of patients show symptom increase and relapse after discharge. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a therapist‐guided smartphone‐based aftercare intervention for inpatients with AN to support symptom stabilization. Method: A total of 186 female patients with a DSM‐5 diagnosis of AN (307.1) will be randomized either to receive a 16‐week smartphone‐based aftercare intervention with therapist feedback as add‐on to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Data will be assessed at discharge (= baseline, T0), after 16 weeks (= end of the aftercare intervention, T1) and after 10 months (= 6‐month follow‐up, T2). Primary outcome will be overall eating disorder symptomatology (Eating Disorder Examination Global score). Secondary outcome measures will include body mass index, depression, motivation to change, self‐efficacy, patient satisfaction with and adherence to the smartphone‐based aftercare intervention as well as rehospitalization rate. Discussion: This study will be the first randomized controlled trial to examine a therapist‐guided smartphone‐based aftercare intervention for inpatients with AN. Results may reveal whether and to which extent this novel intervention can support symptom stabilization after inpatient treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]