Feasibility study for a minimum viable product of an app for primary and secondary prevention of eating disorders through family-based pro-active self-care.

在英国，超过125万人在任何时候都直接受到饮食失调的影响。这些疾病的死亡率是所有精神健康疾病中最高的，幸存者的教育和就业受到重大影响。虽然饮食失调可以在任何年龄发生，但13至17岁的年轻男性和女性的风险最高。在过去六年中，因饮食失调症而入院的人数几乎翻了一番，因此对住院服务的压力往往使患者被安置在离家一定距离的地方，不幸的是，这减少了他们得到家人支持的机会，国王学院饮食失调研究小组是神经生物学研究的世界领导者，神经性厌食症、神经性贪食症和其他饮食失调的遗传和心理原因和后果，利用这些知识开发新的更好的治疗方法。他们的研究表明：“有针对性的以家庭为基础的干预措施，旨在调动家庭自己的资源，是年轻人住院治疗的有效替代方案。“因此，在与国王学院饮食失调研究小组协商后，我们正在探索开发一个独特而创新的应用程序的可行性，该应用程序将以数字方式为年轻人及其家人提供信息，洞察工具和治疗活动，以促进以家庭为基础的积极自我护理那些有饮食失调风险的人。这种一级和二级预防将减少未来对国民保健服务的需求。

Over 1.25 million people in the UK are directly affected by an eating disorder at any one time. These have the highest mortality rate of all mental health conditions, and those who survive suffer a significant impact on their education and employment. Although eating disorders can develop at any age, the risk is highest for young men and women between 13 and 17 years of age. The number of admissions to hospital with a diagnosis of an eating disorder has almost doubled over the past six years and the consequent pressure on in-patient services too often entails the sufferer being placed at some distance from home, which unfortunately reduces the opportunity for support by their family, who otherwise can play a key role in recovery.King's College Eating Disorders Research Group is a world leader in research into neurobiological, genetic and psychological causes and consequences of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders, using that knowledge to develop new and better treatments. Their research has demonstrated that: _"targeted family-based interventions, aimed at mobilising the family's own resources, are an effective alternative to inpatient treatment for younger people."_Therefore, in consultation with King's College Eating Disorders Research Group, we are exploring the feasibility of developing a unique and innovative app which will digitally provide young people and their families with information, insight tools and therapeutic activities, in order to facilitate family-based pro-active self-care for those at risk of an eating disorder. This primary and secondary prevention will reduce the likelihood of a future need for NHS services.