Efficacy of a therapist‐guided smartphone‐based intervention to support recovery from bulimia nervosa: Study protocol of a randomized controlled multi‐centre trial.

Objective: Although inpatient treatment is highly effective for patients with bulimia nervosa (BN), some patients show a resurgence of symptoms and relapse after discharge. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a guided smartphone‐based aftercare intervention following inpatient treatment to support recovery. Method: 172 female patients with BN (DSM‐5: 307.51) will be randomized to receive a 16‐week smartphone‐based aftercare intervention (German version of 'Recovery Record') with therapist feedback as an add‐on element to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. Assessments will take place at baseline (discharge, T0), during the intervention (after 4 weeks, T1), post‐intervention (after 16 weeks, T2) and at 6‐month follow‐up (T3). Primary outcome will be remission at T2. Moderator and mediator analyses will investigate for whom the aftercare intervention suits best and how it works. Conclusions: This is the first randomized controlled trial to examine a guided smartphone‐based aftercare intervention following inpatient treatment of patients with BN. We expect that this innovative aftercare intervention is highly accepted by the patients and that it has the potential to support recovery after inpatient treatment and thereby could contribute to improving aftercare for patients with BN. Highlights: There are several studies reporting relapse rates for patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) after having received remission or abstinence at the end of treatment.This is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effects of a guided smartphone‐based aftercare following inpatient treatment of patients with BN.If this innovative aftercare intervention is accepted by the patients and supports recovery after inpatient treatment for patients with BN, it could contribute to improving aftercare for patients with BN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]