This month we are excited to feature the InsideOut eClinic, a free digital therapeutic platform offering screening, CBT-based treatment programs and a toolbox of self-monitoring tools for people with eating disorder symptoms or their support people.
What is the InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders?
The InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders is Australia’s national institute for research, translation and clinical excellence in eating disorders. Their aim is to transform the care landscape for people with eating disorders, from prevention and early intervention, to treatment and recovery. The InsideOut Institute for Eating Disorders resources and information are experience-informed, with many members of staff having a lived and living experience of eating disorders.
About the InsideOut eClinic
The InsideOut eClinic is a free, self-guided or own-clinician-supported digital therapeutic platform offering a screening tool (IOI-S) and CBT-based treatment programs (eTherapies) for people experiencing eating disorder symptoms or their support people. The eClinic has been accredited under the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.
The eClinic evidence-based eTherapy programs contain psychoeducation, personal stories, and interactive activities to build skills. People can complete a quiz to recommend a suitable program or choose from the 4 available eTherapy programs; Binge Eating eTherapy (BEeT), Brief Binge Eating eTherapy (Brief BEeT), SkillED, and SupportED.
The Binge Eating eTherapy (BEeT) program (age 16+) is comprised of 10 self-paced modules, teaching skills to manage binge eating or overeating. Each module takes about 40-60 minutes to complete, featuring therapy videos, psychoeducation, personal stories and activities. Participants have access to the program for 4 months, and can access the content from anywhere at any time.
The Brief Binge Eating eTherapy (Brief BEeT) program (age 16+) is comprised of 4 self-paced modules, teaching the core skills to manage binge eating or overeating. Each module takes about 40-60 minutes to complete, featuring therapy videos, psychoeducation, personal stories and activities. Participants have access to the program for 2 months, and can access the content from anywhere at any time.
The SkillED program is for people (12+) with mixed restrictive and/or binge eating symptoms. The program is currently available under clinical trial, is comprised of 11 self-paced modules, teaching skills to manage eating and body image concerns. Each module takes about 20 minutes to complete, featuring psychoeducation about eating disorder symptoms, self-monitoring skills and practical tools to balance emotions and eating patterns.
The SupportED program, currently transitioning from clinical trial to publically avaialble, is comprised of 5 self-paced modules for people (16+) caring for a loved one with an eating disorder. Each module takes about 60 minutes to complete, featuring information about available resources and treatment options, practical skills and how to care for their own physical and mental health needs.
The InsideOut eClinic also offers an online toolbox of self-monitoring tools to plan and log meals and snacks, and track thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The Toolbox can be used as a part of the eTherapy programs or as a standalone tool to support treatment when connected with a health professional.
On the InsideOut eClinic website health practitioners can access a Health Professional Hub, enabling clinicians to directly refer clients to specific programs, monitor program completion and outcome measures, and access client Toolbox data. It also includes training modules which outline the basic principles of CBT and how to guide clients through the online programs.
Who is the InsideOut eClinic for?
The InsideOut eClinic programs are for people living in Australia aged 16 years or older, who can comfortably read English.
The BEeT and Brief BEeT programs are suitable for people aged 16 years or older with binge eating and/or bulimia symptoms. Participants must have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5 or above.
The SkillED program is suitable for people aged 12 years or older with mixed eating disorder symptoms such as restrictive or binge eating symptoms or struggles with food, weight or shape issues. It is currently available under a research trial, with users required to complete an eligibility survey and medical check with their GP to participate.
The SupportED program is suitable for people aged 16 years or older supporting a loved one struggling with an eating disorder. It is currently available under a research trial.
The InsideOut eClinic treatment programs are not suitable for people in acute medical and/or psychological crisis, or with diagnoses of Anorexia Nervosa, ARFID, Pica, Rumination Disorder, or Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
Benefits of InsideOut eClinic
Designed by experts and backed by research, the InsideOut eClinic has shown strong outcomes in research trials with up to 70% of participants experiencing clinically significant reductions in eating disorder symptoms, and up to 40% reporting no binge episodes in the month after completing a program. As a free, online platform available anytime, it helps remove barriers such as cost, long waitlists and geographic distance, making effective support more accessible to those who need it.
How can Health Practitioners use the InsideOut eClinic?
Health Practitioners can use the InsideOut eClinic to enhance their own understanding of eating disorders, and CBT. They can refer to eTherapies, monitor clients’ progress through eTherapies, or guide clients through online programs.
Health Practitioners can recommend eClinic to their clients by completing an online form and sending out the information pack. Once their client has registered to participate in a course, health practitioners can monitor their progress through the eClinic dashboard, seeing client results as they complete regular questionnaires.
Health Practitioners may also choose to use the InsideOut eClinic Toolbox as an adjunct to clinical practice. They can use the tools to apply and practice skills, or as homework tasks to further explore during sessions.
Is there a cost to use the InsideOut eClinic?
InsideOut eClinic’s resources are free to access for both health practitioners and your clients/patients. All of the eTherapies are free to register and complete.
How to access the InsideOut eClinic
The InsideOut eClinic is available online at https://eclinic.insideoutinstitute.org.au/.
Users will be asked to provide basic demographic details, agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and endorse a TickBox outlining that the eClinic is not monitored by InsideOut and is not a substitute for face-to-face intervention or a crisis service. The user will then provide an email address to create an account on the eClinic, and then answer a series of questionnaires before they can access the therapies on the dashboard.
Health Professionals must register with their first name, last name, email address and relevant accrediting body to access the InsideOut eClinic resources, programs, outcome monitoring features and clinical training programs. headspace clinicians can sign up with headspace.
InsideOut eClinic Research and Evaluation
The InsideOut eClinic programs and resources have been written and codesigned by eating disorder specialist clinicians and researchers at the University of Sydney, and people with lived experience of an eating disorder.
The Binge Eating eTherapy program has undergone rigorous testing and evaluation in several trials, and is backed by data showing the program helps to improve eating disorder symptoms.
Learn more about the InsideOut eClinic trials and outcomes here.
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