MedPath

Digital Behavioral Interventions in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Crohn Disease
Stress, Psychological
Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Depression, Anxiety
Interventions
Behavioral: Internet based cognitive behavioral therapy
Behavioral: Digital mood tracking
Registration Number
NCT04861597
Lead Sponsor
Montefiore Medical Center
Brief Summary

Given the bidirectionality between psychological distress and disease activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), whereby increased psychological distress exacerbates disease activity and vice versa, psychosocial aspects of IBD care are receiving increased attention. However, proposed interventions are generally resource-intensive and have been tested in majority white populations. While people of color are an increasing segment of the IBD population, they are currently underrepresented in research studies. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and implementation of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) among IBD patients of color with elevated psychological distress.

Detailed Description

The investigators propose a 1:1 randomized trial design to evaluate the efficacy of iCBT among a population of Black and Latinx IBD patients and to assess factors influencing its implementation. Patients within the integrated health system at Montefiore Medical Center will be actively recruited and screened to identify those with elevated psychological distress.

Eligible patients will be randomized to receive 8 weeks of iCBT or digital mood tracking to evaluate the effect of iCBT on levels of psychological distress, HRQoL and disease activity post-intervention. The investigators will also evaluate individual process level barriers and facilitators to iCBT implementation via surveys and semi-structured interviews.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
55
Inclusion Criteria
  • age ≥ 18 years
  • race/ethnicity self-identified as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino
  • established diagnosis of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
  • elevated psychological distress: at least one T-score within two standard deviations above the mean in the domains of anxiety or depression on the National Institutes of Health Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29) with or without a T-score within two standard deviations above the mean for perceived stress on the National Institute of Health Toolbox Perceived Stress Scale (Perceived Stress Scale)
  • internet access (smartphone/mobile device with data plan, computer with internet)
  • ability to provide informed consent in English or Spanish
Exclusion Criteria
  • PROMIS-29 anxiety or depression T-scores in the severe range (above 2 standard deviations)
  • Current suicidal ideation, past suicidal attempt or hospitalization

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapyInternet based cognitive behavioral therapyThe iCBT platform selected for use in this study (Sanvello™) is an evidence-based mobile app created by clinical experts that has been shown to decrease depression, anxiety, and stress and to increase self-efficacy in a non-IBD population.15 App features include: daily mood tracking; guided journeys (e.g. psychoeducational content providing background information about cognitive behavioral therapy and instructing users on how to use app tools to maintain motivation and interest); coping tools (e.g. meditation, goal setting, and negative thought redirecting activities); weekly progress assessments; community support board.
Digital mood trackingDigital mood trackingThe digital mood tracking application (app) selected for this study (PixelTM) allows participants to log their mood each day by way of a facial expression emoji and a free-text box. This app is commercially available free of charge through iOS and Android app stores with English and Spanish language options.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Level of Psychological DistressPost-4 week trial intervention

Level of psychological distress in participants over the prior 7 days was measured by combining the sub-score domains of anxiety and depression from the National Institutes of Health Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29) assessment tool. PROMIS-29 is a 29-item form that includes 4 questions in each of the domains of anxiety and depression. Group mean scores of these 8 items are composited. Higher scores indicate a greater level of the measured trait, and raw scores are converted to a T-score that centers at a mean of 50 with a standard deviation of 10 in the general population.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Disease Activity by Short Crohn's Disease Activity IndexPost-4 week trial intervention

Disease activity over the prior 7 days for Crohn's disease patients will be measured using the Short Crohn's Disease Activity Index (sCDAI). The sCDAI consists of three variables identified as predictors of disease activity: diarrhea frequency (number of liquid or soft stools), abdominal pain, and general well-being. Scoring was calculated as follows to calculate an overall score: 44 + (2 x the number of liquid or soft stools each day for 7 days) + 5 x the sum of seven daily abdominal pain ratings (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) + 7 x the sum of seven general well-being ratings (0 = generally well, 1 = slightly under par, 2 = poor, 3 = very poor, 4 = terrible). Overall scoring ranged from 44 to an undefined upper limit based on diarrhea frequency with increasing scores being indicative of more Crohn's disease activity. Group scores were summarized using basic descriptive statistics.

Disease Activity by Simple Clinical Colitis Activity IndexPost-4 week trial intervention

Disease activity over the prior 7 days in Ulcerative Colitis patients will be measured using the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI). The SCCAI consists of five colitis activity symptom items (bowel frequency per day, bowel frequency per night, urgency of defecation, blood in stool, and general well-being) along with an assessment of extracolonic manifestations. Bowel frequency per night is scored on a 0-2 scale and General well being is scored on a 0-4 scale. The other 3 symptom scores are scored on a 0-3 scale. 1 point each is added for the presence of any extracolonic manifestation (i.e., uveitis, pyoderma gangrenosum, erythema nodusum, and arthropathy). Scores are summarized for an overall possible scoring range of 0-19 with increasing scores being indicative of more colitis activity. Group scores were summarized using basic descriptive statistics.

Perceived Stress ScorePost-4 week trial intervention

Level of perceived stress in IBD patients was measured using the NIH Toolbox Item Bank/Fixed Form v2.0. This form consists of 10 questions or statements used to assess perceptions of stress in IBD patients over the past month. Responses to the 10 items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("Never") to 5 ("Very Often"). Raw scores are auto-converted to a T-score that centers at a mean score of 50 with a Standard Deviation (SD) of 10. Higher scores are indicative of higher levels of the trait (perceived stress). Group scores were summarized using basic descriptive statistics.

Health-related Quality-of-LifePost-4 week trial intervention

Health-related Quality-of-Life as measured by the overall National Institutes of Health Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Montefiore Hutchinson Campus

🇺🇸

Bronx, New York, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath