Assessing a new clinical resource for anorexia nervosa: Stories of recovery from anorexia Page 2 of 2

Version 521/06/2013

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School of Psychology
Faculty of Science
ABN 15 211 513 464
Lisa Dawson Dr. Paul Rhodes
PhD Candidate Senior Lecturer / Brennan MacCallum Building (A18)
The University of Sydney
NSW 2006 AUSTRALIA
Telephone: +61 2 9036 7264
Facsimile: +61 2 9036 5223
Email:

Web:

Assessing a new clinical resource for anorexia nervosa: Stories of recovery from anorexia Page 2 of 2

Version 521/06/2013

Assessing a new clinical resource for anorexia nervosa: Stories of recovery from anorexia

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION STATEMENT

(1)What is the study about?

Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness that is associated with much distress and difficulties for those living with the illness. There is still a lot we do not know about how to effectively treat anorexia nervosa. A new clinical resource has been developed for those with anorexia nervosa and subclinical anorexia nervosa. This resource contains the stories of recovery of former sufferers of the illness who have now been successfully recovered for five or more years.

Adults who are eighteen years or over with anorexia nervosa or subclinical anorexia nervosa (i.e.,Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 20)are invited to take part in a study that is investigating the effectiveness of this new resource.

(2)Who is carrying out the study?

The study is being conducted by Lisa Dawson and will form the basis for the degree of PhD at The University of Sydney under the supervision of Dr. Paul Rhodes, Prof. Stephen Touyz, and Dr. Barbara Mullan.

(3)What does the study involve?

This study involves firstly completing a brief questionnaire online to assess your eligibility for the study. If eligible, the study involves completing questionnaires online,which will ask you about your current eating habits, attitudes towards eating, shape, and weight, motivational issues, and your beliefs and attitudes about recovery.You will be asked to complete these questionnaires on either two or threeoccasions, two weeks apart. You will also be asked to read the resource, which contains five stories of recovery from anorexia nervosa.This will be emailed to your nominated email address. After reading the materials you are then invited to give feedback on the resource.

(4)How much time will the study take?

It is anticipated that the initial screening questionnaire will take around five minutes. Following this, the sets of questionnaires should take approximately one hour for each time they are completed. The resource contains five short stories, which are each about the same length as a long magazine article. It is anticipated that the stories should take approximately 20 minutes each to read.Thus, the total duration of the study includes approximatelyone hour and 40 minutes of reading and twoto three hours of survey completion across a twoor four week period.

(5)Can I withdraw from the study?

Being in this study is completely voluntary and you are not under any obligation to consent. Submitting completed questionnaires is an indication of your consent to participate in the study. You can withdraw any time prior to submitting your completed questionnaires. Once you have submitted your questionnaires anonymously, your responses cannot be withdrawn.

(6)Will anyone else know the results?

All aspects of the study, including results, will be strictly confidential. No information that could lead to your identification will be released and only the researchers will have access to information on participants.

In accordance with usual practice, a report of the study may be submitted for publication in scientific journals, but individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report.

(7)Will the study benefit me?

This study aims to further knowledge and may improve future treatment for anorexia nervosa, however, it may not directly benefit you. It is hoped that the clinical resource being tested will be helpful for current sufferers.

(8)Can I tell other people about the study?

Yes, you can tell other people about the study by providing them with the investigator’s contact details. They can then contact the investigator to discuss their participation in the research project.

(9)What if I require further information about the study or my involvement in it?

If you would like to know more at any stage, please feel free to contact Lisa Dawson at Dr. Paul Rhodes at .

(10)What if I have a complaint or any concerns?

Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of a research study can contact The Manager, Human Ethics Administration, University of Sydney on +61 2 8627 8176 (Telephone); +61 2 8627 8177 (Facsimile) or (Email).

(11)What if I need support for an eating disorder?

Please note that this study is not designed to, and does not, provide medical advice. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The advice and support of trained eating disorder professionals can help you regain your health, learn to eat normally again, and develop healthier attitudes about food and your body.We have provided with you details about access to services for an eating disorder, should you need extra support.

Assessing a new clinical resource for anorexia nervosa: Stories of recovery from anorexia Page 2 of 2

Version 521/06/2013