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

Abstract

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 þ 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 þ TAU group. Carers in both groups improved in expressed emotion, accommodation, perceived ED impact, and emotional well‐being, with greater effects in the ECHOMANTRA þ 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.