Therapeutic use of digital tools for eating disorders

Abstract

Introduction: digital tools, such as health-related websites and apps for smartphones and mobile devices, are expanding. There are clinically useful tools designed for people with eating disorders (ED) and/or for professionals who work on this issue. The present research was motivated by the prevailing controversy between risks and potential therapeutic uses.

Objectives: to identify new technologies for addressing EDs (Apps, virtual platforms) and to describe the functionality of digital tools, and their therapeutic uses.

Materials and method: a bibliographic review of scientific publications was carried out by searching the database: Scielo, Google Scholar, Lilacs and Pubmed. Original and complete scientific articles were included, in English, from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2022.

Results: 20 articles of qualitative design (n=9), clinical trials (n=8) and descriptive (n=3) were found, from clinical samples (patients or people with symptoms (n=13), health personnel (n=4) and population with risk factors (n=3). Most studies agree that digital tools favor the reduction of symptoms of eating disorders such as concern for the body and food, by collaborating in the provision of food records and thoughts, promoting physical activity and adequate hours of sleep, imparting coping skills, socialization and management of emotions, as well as promoting communication with therapists. They also provide prevention and early intervention services, increase access to and adherence to treatment, and prevent relapse. The lack of availability of digital tools, the possibility of generating obsession, the discontinuity in their use (they stop using them after a while) and the high professional demand to supervise them call into question their use during treatments.

Conclusion: more research is needed on the use of digital support in the clinical practice of eating disorders. Many are not available in Argentina. In addition, regulation is required and that the contents are aligned with current scientific evidence.