Kathryn Trottier

I have focused my career as a scientist-practitioner on delivering, developing, and evaluating evidence-based psychotherapies for eating disorders. Through my work as both a researcher and clinician in the Eating Disorder Program at UHN, I have come to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of evidence-based treatments in actual clinical practice. Unfortunately, many individuals drop out from treatment prematurely or continue to have significant symptoms at end of treatment, and a significant portion of those who do remit relapse. My CPA has focused on identifying gaps in current evidence-based and best practice treatments using my clinical experience and program evaluation; developing manualized interventions aimed at addressing these gaps; and evaluating these interventions using rigorous research methods.

Research Synopsis

My research has related to evidence-based treatment of eating disorders with a focus on understanding and addressing illness maintaining factors. In past research, I sought to better understand the core cognitive psychopathology of eating disorders, namely the overvaluation of body weight/shape. In my current program of research I have broadened my focus to maintaining factors that are not eating disorder specific. In particular, I have been examining my hypothesis that co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) maintains eating disorder symptoms and, without treatment, prevents eating disorder recovery. My team and I are developing and testing the feasibility, safety and efficacy of an integrated treatment for eating disorders and PTSD with the goal of increasing eating disorder treatment engagement, retention, and efficacy. We are currently nearing the end of recruitment.

Recent Publications

1. Trottier, K., & MacDonald, D. (2017). Update on psychological trauma, other severe adverse experiences, and eating disorders: State of the research and future directions. Current Psychiatry Reports, 19, 45. doi: 10.1007/s11920-017-0806-6 Role: Principal Author

2. Trottier, K., Monson, C., Wonderlich, S., & Olmsted, M. P. (2017). Initial findings from Project Recover: Overcoming co-occurring eating disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder through integrated treatment. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 30, 173-177. Role: Principal Author

3. MacDonald, Trottier, K., & Olmsted, M. P. (2017). Rapid improvements in emotion regulation predict intensive treatment outcome for patients with bulimia nervosa and purging disorder. International Journal of Eating Disorders. Description / Contribution Value: Postdoctoral supervisor Role: Co-author

4. Trottier, K., Monson, C., Wonderlich, S., MacDonald, D. E., & Olmsted, M. P. (2016). Frontline clinicians’ perspectives on and utilization of trauma-focused therapy with individuals with eating disorders. Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 25, 22-36.. doi: 10.1080/10640266.2016.1207456 Role: Principal Author

5. Trottier, K., Wonderlich, S.A., Monson, C.M., Crosby, R.D., & Olmsted, M. P. (2016). Investigating posttraumatic stress disorder as a maintaining factor of eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 49, 455-457. doi: 10.1002/eat.22516

Honours and Awards

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2018: Academic Scholar Award, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

2017: Article of the Year Finalist, Principal Author, Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. (Author Award, Speciality: Eating Disorders) Description: Trottier, K., Monson, C., Wonderlich, S., MacDonald, D. E., & Olmsted, M. P. (2016). Frontline clinicians’ perspectives on and utilization of trauma-focused therapy with individuals with eating disorders. Eating Disorders: Journal of Treatment and Prevention, 25, 22-36. doi: 10.1080/10640266.2016.1207456.

2017: Article selected for special issue, International Journal of Eating Disorders. (Author Award, Speciality: Eating Disorders) Description: Trottier, K., Carter, J., MacDonald, D., McFarlane, T., & Olmsted, M.P. (2015). Adjunctive graded body image exposure for eating disorders: A randomized controlled initial trial in clinical practice, International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48, 494-504. Article selected for inclusion in a special issue highlighting key findings related to cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders. International Journal of Eating Disorders is the highest impact journal in eating disorders. Article described as “chosen to show off the best in the field.”

Grants

2018-2020: Principal Investigator. Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Implementation of an Integrated Intensive Treatment Protocol for Eating Disorders and Co-occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. University Health Network. Collaborative Academic Practice Research Grant. Principal Investigator: Trottier, Kathryn Collaborators: MacDonald, D., Olmsted, O. $4,999 (CAD) Operating Grant

2018-2020: Principal Investigator. Development and Implementation of an Integrated Intensive Treatment Protocol for Eating Disorders and Co-occurring Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. WaterStone Foundation Fund. Principal Investigator: Trottier, Kathryn $30,000 (CAD) Operating Grant

2015-2018: Principal Investigator. Eating Disorders and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Facilitating Full Recovery through Empirically-Based Concurrent Treatment. Ontario Mental Health Foundation. Research Grant. Principal Investigator: Trottier, Kathryn Co-Investigators: Monson, C., Wonderlich, S., Colton, P., Olmsted, M. Collaborator: Crosby, R. $148,472 (CAD) Operating Grant