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Increasing Treatment Efficacy Using SMART Methods for Personalizing Care

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Anxiety Disorders
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Compensation UP Treatment
Behavioral: Standard UP Treatment
Behavioral: Capitalization UP Treatment
Registration Number
NCT04642898
Lead Sponsor
Shannon E. Sauer-Zavala
Brief Summary

The proposed study will determine the feasibility, tolerability, and acceptability of a study that tests: 1) personalized treatment delivery (i.e., module sequencing and treatment discontinuation timing) aimed at increasing the efficiency of care, and 2) the research protocol designed to evaluate the effects of this personalized care. A sample of 60 participants with heterogeneous anxiety disorders (and comorbid conditions, including depression) will be enrolled in a pilot sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART). Patients will be randomly assigned to one of three sequencing conditions: transdiagnostic treatment administered in its standard module order, module sequences that prioritize capitalizing on relative strengths, and module sequences that prioritize compensating for relative weaknesses. Next, after 6 sessions, participants will be randomly assigned to either continue or discontinue treatment to evaluate post-treatment change at varying levels of target engagement. This proposal will enable us to 1) test the feasibility, acceptability, and tolerability of the research protocol, treatment sequencing conditions, and early treatment discontinuation, 2) determine whether a preliminary signal that capitalization or compensation module sequencing improves treatment efficiency exists, and 3) explore preliminary associations between core process engagement at treatment discontinuation and later symptom improvement. The proposed study, and the subsequent research it will support, will inform evidence-based decision rules to make existing treatments more efficient, ultimately reducing patient costs and increasing the mental health service system's capacity to address the needs of more individuals.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
66
Inclusion Criteria
  • diagnosis of at least one anxiety disorder, trauma- or stressor-related disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • fluent in English
  • medication stability
Exclusion Criteria
  • concurrent therapy
  • psychological condition that would be better addressed by alternative treatments
  • have received more than 5 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy in the past 5 years

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Compensation Group, Brief InterventionCompensation UP TreatmentParticipants in this group will receive 6 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that compensate for patient weaknesses.
Compensation Group, Full InterventionCompensation UP TreatmentParticipants in this group will receive 12 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that compensate for patient weaknesses.
Standard Group, Brief InterventionStandard UP TreatmentParticipants in this group will receive 6 sessions of treatment in accordance with the standard, published Unified Protocol (UP) manual.
Standard Group, Full InterventionStandard UP TreatmentParticipants in this group will receive 12 sessions of treatment in accordance with the standard, published Unified Protocol (UP) manual.
Capitalization Group, Brief InterventionCapitalization UP TreatmentParticipants in this group will receive 6 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that capitalize on patient strengths.
Capitalization Group, Full InterventionCapitalization UP TreatmentParticipants in this group will receive 12 sessions of treatment organized to prioritize skills that capitalize on patient strengths.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Clinical Severity12 weeks (baseline, week 6 and week 12)

Clinical severity will be measured using the Diagnostic Interview for Anxiety, Mood, and Obsessive Compulsive and Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders (DIAMOND) dimensional clinician ratings. Scores range from 1-7; higher scores indicate greater severity.

Change in Self-Reported Anxiety Symptoms12 weeks (baseline, week 1, week, 2, week, 3.....week 12)

Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the Overall Anxiety Severity and Interference Scale (OASIS). This is a self-report measure in which scores range from 0-20; higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

Change in Clinician-Rated Depressive Symptoms12 weeks (baseline, week 6 and week 12)

Clinician-rated depressive symptoms will be measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depressive Symptoms. Scores range from 0-68; higher scores indicate greater severity.

Change in Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms12 weeks (baseline, week 1, week, 2, week, 3.....week 12)

Depressive symptoms will be measured using the Overall Depression Severity and Interference Scale (ODSIS). This is a self-report measure in which scores range from 0-20; higher scores indicate more severe anxiety symptoms.

Change in Clinician-Rated Anxiety Symptoms12 weeks (baseline, week 6 and week 12)

Clinician-rated anxiety symptoms will be measured using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety Symptoms. Scores range from 0-56; higher scores indicate greater severity.

Change in Self-Reported Aversive Reactions to Emotions12 weeks (baseline, week 1, week, 2, week, 3.....week 12)

Aversive reactions to emotions will be measured using the distress aversion subscale of the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire (MEAQ). This is a self-report measure in which scores range from 13-78; higher scores indicate greater negative reactions to emotional experiences.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Kentucky

🇺🇸

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

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