Trial reportEuropean eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association2026
A Socially Assistive Robot for Outpatient Eating Disorder Waiting-List Support: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.
Trial report in European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- A Socially Assistive Robot for Outpatient Eating Disorder Waiting-List Support: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association · 2026Trial
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveThis feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluated Purrble, a socially assistive robot for emotion regulation, as a low-intensity adjunct during waitlist periods in adult eating disorder services.
methodAdults waiting for outpatient eating disorder treatment were randomised to four weeks of Purrble use or waitlist-as-usual. The primary outcome was emotion regulation, assessed with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale; secondary outcomes included sensory sensitivity, anxiety, depression, and motivation for change. Analyses were conducted using paired t-tests and linear mixed-effects models. Acceptability was explored via a qualitative survey.
results39 participants were enrolled in the trial and 37 participants were retained (19 Purrble, 18 control). A significant group × time interaction emerged for depression, with greater reductions in symptoms among Purrble participants. No significant interactions were found for emotion regulation, sensory sensitivity, motivation, or anxiety, though the Purrble group showed small-to-moderate improvements in emotion regulation, sensory sensitivity, and anxiety, and a significant within-group increase in motivation. Qualitative findings identified four categories: situational use during distress, sensory comfort and emotional connection, design limitations/barriers, and continued use with integration into self-care.
conclusionsPurrble proved acceptable and feasible as a waitlist adjunct in adult eating disorder outpatient services. A significant between-group effect on depression and a within-group improvement in motivation provide preliminary support for a fully powered trial.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.