{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,14]],"date-time":"2026-09-14T22:22:44Z","timestamp":1789424564540,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,6]],"date-time":"2024-02-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1707177600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)","award":["EP\/X525571\/1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EP\/X525571\/1"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Individuals with eating disorders (EDs) often encounter challenges related to body image, emotional, and sensory difficulties during nutritional rehabilitation. To address these challenges, a novel technology-enabled smart toy, Purrble, designed for immediate assistance in emotion regulation, is being explored. A mixed-method approach involving workshops, diaries, and focus groups was employed to examine the feasibility of Purrble as a therapeutic tool and its impact on participants\u2019 daily routines, sensory experiences, and emotional states. The study results demonstrate the engagement and acceptability of this device. Qualitative analysis revealed that participants independently used and integrated Purrble into their emotional and sensory regulation practices. These pilot results support the potential for a shift in the delivery of adjunct therapeutic tools through technology, particularly for ED patients with complex presentations. Future research is necessary to further explore the psychological benefits of this intervention.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu16040467","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,6]],"date-time":"2024-02-06T03:22:31Z","timestamp":1707189751000},"page":"467","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["Introducing a Smart Toy in Eating Disorder Treatment: A Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3253-8991","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Dimitri","family":"Chubinidze","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"},{"name":"National Eating Disorders Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhuo","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8458-7715","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Petr","family":"Slovak","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Informatics, King\u2019s College London, London WC2B 4BG, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7840-4158","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Julian","family":"Baudinet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"},{"name":"Maudsley Centre for Child and Adolescent Eating Disorders (MCCAED), Maudsley Hospital, London SE5 8AZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emmanuelle","family":"Dufour","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Eating Disorders Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8988-3265","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kate","family":"Tchanturia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King\u2019s College London, London SE5 8AF, UK"},{"name":"National Eating Disorders Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London SE5 8AZ, UK"},{"name":"Department of Psychology, Ilia State University, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1002\/eat.20589","article-title":"Academy for eating disorders position paper: Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses","volume":"42","author":"Klump","year":"2009","journal-title":"Int. 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