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Table 3  Proposed potential future research model

From: Conceptualizing eating disorder recovery research: Current perspectives and future research directions

Method types

Perspectives incorporated

Longitudinal design

Outcome measures

Quantitative

Individuals (increased diversity of races/ethnicities)

Multiple points of assessment for changes:

Risk Calculators (personalized risk of ED onset/relapse)

Qualitative

“Supports” (e.g., parents, family, partners, friends, mentors)

Symptoms

fMRI, DEXA scans (provide accurate body medical status)

Psycho/Physiological

Researchers

Cognitions

Time lines (when state and scar markers emerge)

Behavioral

Clinicians

Psychosocial functioning QOL

EMA “active” recovery (challenges, impacts on behavior/feelings)

Laboratory

Study co-designs (identify and assess aspects of ED recovery important to all constituents)

Recovery definitions

Participant-identified target behaviors (monitor decrease via standardized assessments for ongoing motivation)

Online Observations

 

Compare recovery operalizations vs. subsequent relapse rates

Participant narrative experiences of cognitive recovery (shifting identity from “ED” towards person)

Combine types for multi-methods design

 

Evaluation of BMI as predictive of recovery (vs. other variables)

Participant narrative experiences of psychosocial recovery (group: narrative thematic analysis of overall trends, individual: personal recording of progress)

  

Provide group and individual level long term ED course trajectories

Supportive mentorship relationship aspects (mentor characteristics, stage of individual recovery, dynamics of the mentor relationship)

   

Holding on to hope (more data indicates that recovery is possible, even after decades)

  1. BMI  body mass index, ED  eating disorder, EMA  ecological momentary assessment, DEXA  dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry; fMRI = functional magnetic resonance imaging, RC  risk calculator, QOL  quality of life