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Addressing Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Not Applicable
Conditions
Crohn Disease
Depression
Anxiety
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
Ulcerative Colitis
Interventions
Behavioral: Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Other: Short Questionnaires
Behavioral: Nurse Monitoring
Other: Detailed Questionnaires
Other: Screening Form
Registration Number
NCT03327038
Lead Sponsor
Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada
Brief Summary

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are chronic debilitating disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that comprise two subtypes; Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Canada has among the highest incidence rates of CD and UC in the world, as high as 20.2 and 19.5 per 100,000 respectively. Although, IBD can occur at any age, it is frequently diagnosed in the second and third decades of life, at a time when vulnerable individuals are entering the prime years of their lives. This age of onset, coupled with the recurrent and frequently relapsing nature of these disorders, can significantly impair the psychological well-being of patients. Therefore, it's not surprising that patients with IBD report a higher burden of depression and anxiety in comparison to the general population. The prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with IBD have previously been linked to the following: (1) Increased risk of surgery; (2) Increased number of relapses; (3) Clinical recurrence; (4) Treatment failure and earlier retreatment; (5) Lower self-reported quality of life, satisfaction, and medication adherence; (6) and Increased health care utilization. Although, depression and anxiety are highly treatable conditions, they are often under-recognized and under- treated in patients with IBD. The most common treatments for these disorders are pharmacological agents and psychological treatments. Psychological treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have extensive support for treatment of depression and anxiety. The major advantage of psychological treatments over pharmacological agents is their ability to sustain improved depression and anxiety symptoms in patients post-treatment. As part of this study, we aim to evaluate the following:

Specific Aim #1: Determine whether a psychological intervention, involving web-based CBT, is effective in ameliorating depression and anxiety symptoms in a cohort of adult IBD patients.

Specific Aim #2: Determine the durability effect of the intervention on sustaining improved psychiatric symptoms.

Specific Aim #3: Determine the impact of a psychological on IBD-specific and psychiatric-specific health care utilization.

Detailed Description

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) are chronic debilitating disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that comprise two subtypes; Crohn's Disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC). Canada has among the highest incidence rates of CD and UC in the world, as high as 20.2 and 19.5 per 100,000 respectively. Although, IBD can occur at any age, it is frequently diagnosed in the second and third decades of life; at a time when vulnerable individuals are entering the prime years of their lives. This age of onset, coupled with the recurrent and frequently relapsing nature of these disorders, can significantly impair the psychological well-being of patients. Therefore, it's not surprising that patients with IBD report a higher burden of depression and anxiety in comparison to the general population.

The rates of depression in patients with IBD, as measured by the National Population Health Survey and the Canadian Community Health Survey, range from 14.7% to 16.3%. These rates are significantly higher than the general Canadian population, in which 5.6% of healthy respondents reported a 12-month prevalence of depression. Moreover, studies among clinical samples of IBD patients have reported rates of depression as high as 35%. The prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with IBD have previously been linked to the following: (1) Increased risk of surgery; (2) Increased number of relapses; (3) Clinical recurrence; (4) Treatment failure and earlier retreatment; (5) Lower self-reported quality of life, satisfaction, and medication adherence; (6) and Increased health care utilization.

Although, depression and anxiety are highly treatable conditions, they are often under recognized and under treated in patients with IBD. The most common treatments for these disorders are pharmacological agents and psychological treatments. Psychological treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have extensive support for treatment of depression and anxiety. CBT refers to a group of interventions that share the notion that cognitive factors influence mental disorders and psychological distress, and that maladaptive cognitions contribute to emotional distress and behavioral problems. The major advantage of psychological treatments over pharmacological agents is their ability to sustain improved depression and anxiety symptoms in patients post-treatment.

Considering the prevalence and impact of depression and anxiety disorders in patients with IBD, further research in this area is needed to identify the most effective approaches for screening and treatment of these disorders. Research is also need to ascertain the effects of psychological treatments for depression and anxiety on influencing physiological aspects of IBD. As part of this study, we aim to evaluate the effectiveness of a psychological intervention which incorporates web-based CBT intervention on a cohort of adult IBD patients; by measuring its impact on clinical and self-reported outcomes.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • PHQ-9 AND/OR GAD-7 score ≥ 10
  • Confirmed diagnosis of IBD (based on record of diagnostic endoscopy)
  • Access to Computer or Smartphone
  • Access to an Internet Connection
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients without a record of diagnostic endoscopy in their clinical record
  • Under psychological treatment parallel to the intervention being carried out
  • Diagnosis of major depressive, dysthymic, bipolar or psychotic disorder
  • History of anti-depressant medication use within 1 month of enrollment
  • History of substance abuse or dependence within 1 month of enrollment
  • Previous course of CBT within 12 months of Enrollment
  • History of suicide
  • History of psychiatric hospitalization
  • Inability to provide informed consent
  • Insufficient command of written and spoken English

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Psychological InterventionWeb-Based Cognitive Behavioral TherapyPatients will be randomized to the intervention group after they have complete the study screening form. Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive a multifaceted intervention consisting of the following components (administered over an 8 week period): (1) Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: (2) Short Questionnaires; (3) Ongoing Nurse Monitoring.
Psychological InterventionNurse MonitoringPatients will be randomized to the intervention group after they have complete the study screening form. Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive a multifaceted intervention consisting of the following components (administered over an 8 week period): (1) Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: (2) Short Questionnaires; (3) Ongoing Nurse Monitoring.
Psychological InterventionDetailed QuestionnairesPatients will be randomized to the intervention group after they have complete the study screening form. Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive a multifaceted intervention consisting of the following components (administered over an 8 week period): (1) Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: (2) Short Questionnaires; (3) Ongoing Nurse Monitoring.
Psychological InterventionScreening FormPatients will be randomized to the intervention group after they have complete the study screening form. Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive a multifaceted intervention consisting of the following components (administered over an 8 week period): (1) Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: (2) Short Questionnaires; (3) Ongoing Nurse Monitoring.
ControlDetailed QuestionnairesPatients will be randomized to the control group after they have completed the study screening form. Patients randomized to the control group will receive the usual standard of care that is available to patients with moderate anxiety or depression. Additionally, control patients will completed detailed questionnaires for assessment of primary and secondary outcomes.
Psychological InterventionShort QuestionnairesPatients will be randomized to the intervention group after they have complete the study screening form. Patients randomized to the intervention group will receive a multifaceted intervention consisting of the following components (administered over an 8 week period): (1) Web-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: (2) Short Questionnaires; (3) Ongoing Nurse Monitoring.
ControlScreening FormPatients will be randomized to the control group after they have completed the study screening form. Patients randomized to the control group will receive the usual standard of care that is available to patients with moderate anxiety or depression. Additionally, control patients will completed detailed questionnaires for assessment of primary and secondary outcomes.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Rates of Moderate Depression (PHQ-9)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention rates will be compared between study groups

Rates of Moderate Anxiety (GAD-7)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention rates will be compared between study groups

Rates of Moderate Depression (PHQ-9) and co-morbid Anxiety (GAD-7)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention rates will be compared between study groups

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Difference in Anxiety Scores (GAD-7)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scores will be compared between study groups

Difference in Depression Scores (PHQ-9)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores will be compared between study groups

Change in Depression Scores (PHQ-9)Between Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Change in Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scores between enrollment and post-intervention will be compared within study groups

Change in Anxiety Scores (GAD-7)Between Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scores between enrollment and post-intervention will be compared within study groups

Rates of Active IBD (PRO-2 or MAYO-6)Between Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Change in rates between enrollment and post-intervention will be compared within study groups

Difference in Quality of Life Scores (SIBDQ)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) scores will be compared between study groups

Rates of IBD-related hospitalizationsBetween Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Event rates over trial period will be compared between study groups

Rates of IBD-related surgery over intervention periodBetween Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Event rates over trial period will be compared between study groups

Difference in Patient Satisfaction Scores (CACHE)Post-Intervention (i.e. week 8)

Post-intervention Patient Satisfaction with Health Care in IBD (CACHE) scores will be compared between study groups

Change in Patient Satisfaction Scores (CACHE)Between Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Change in Patient Satisfaction with Health Care in IBD (CACHE) scores between enrollment and post-intervention will be compared within study groups

Change in Quality of Life Scores (SIBDQ)Between Enrollment (i.e. week 1) and Post-intervention (i.e. week 8)

Change in Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ) scores between enrollment and post-intervention will be compared within study groups

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Mount Sinai Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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