Feasibility of an adjunctive intervention for Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT) – an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based transdiagnostic approach

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT); Other - Conditions of unknown or disputed aetiology (such as chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis)

• Registration Number: ACTRN12623000372684
• Lead Sponsor: Austin Health

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-04-13
• Last Update Posted: 27 May 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

i.Able to consent to the study
ii.Possess English sufficient to understand and engage with the therapy
iii.Access to Telehealth facilities, or able to attend on site at the Austin Hospital
iv.>17 years of age
v. Able to pause any existing psychological therapies during the treatment intervention
vi.Meet the following case definition for DSCATT:
a) DSCATT requires evidence of a tick bite which must be either:
i. subject report of an observed tick bite (though symptoms may not develop for several months afterwards) OR
ii. serological results from a NATA-accredited laboratory consistent with previous infection (i.e. detection of pathogen-specific IgG) with a tick-transmitted pathogen, for example, Rickettsia, Q-fever, Babesia, Anaplasma, Borrelia, or tick-borne encephalitis virus
b) DSCATT can be acquired in Australia or overseas
c) DSCATT must involve symptoms in three or more systems (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, etc.), which must include fatigue and a cognitive symptom
d) DSCATT symptoms can be mild, but must be present for at least six months, including relapse and remission, and must impact everyday activities
e) DSCATT can develop following one or more diagnosed infections, or without diagnosed infection
f) DSCATT is excluded by other medical conditions which better explain the symptoms, but not by abnormal tests in isolation, nor by other medically unexplained syndromes

Note, this case definition was developed in 2022 and updated in 2024 following a modified Delphi process facilitated by our research group involving patient representatives, clinicians and scientists familiar with DSCATT (N = 11).

Exclusion Criteria

i.Current psychotic disorder
ii.Diagnosis of a medical condition which better explains the participant’s symptoms (excluding medically unexplained syndromes/functional disorders)

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified