Meal support using mobile technology in Anorexia Nervosa. Contextual differences between inpatient and outpatient settings

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a “supported eating” intervention using mobile technology in patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN). Twenty Inpatients and 18 Outpatients with AN underwent a test meal on two occasions, whilst listening to either a short video-clip (‘vodcast’), or music delivered on an MP4 player. Self-report and behavioural measures were collected before and after each test meal. Differences were found between the inpatient and outpatient settings. Inpatients drank more of the test meal and had increased levels of vigilance to food after the test meal, in both conditions. When the support conditions (Vodcast vs. Music) were compared, inpatients seemed to benefit more from listening to music (reduced distress and more smoothie drunk), whereas outpatients benefitted more from using the vodcast (reduced distress, more smoothie drunk, and reduced vigilance to food). The context in which the intervention was delivered had an impact on self-report and behavioural measures collected during the test meal. This suggests that the form of meal support in AN needs to match the context.

► Inpatients and outpatients with Anorexia Nervosa have different reactions to food.
► The form of meal support (vodcast) benefited outpatients more.
► The vodcast did not reduce distress and vigilance to food in the inpatient setting.
► The form of meal support in Anorexia Nervosa needs to match the context.