Learning Effective New Strategies for Worry in Parkinson's Disease
- Conditions
- AnxietyParkinson Disease
- Interventions
- Behavioral: Interpretation bias training
- Registration Number
- NCT04007718
- Lead Sponsor
- King's College London
- Brief Summary
High rates of anxiety and worry has been observed in people with Parkinson's (PwP). Previous research outside of PwP has shown that individuals with anxiety have a habit of interpreting ambiguous information in a negative manner (i.e., interpretation bias), and that it is possible to encourage a more positive interpretation bias through an online training.
In the current study, the aim is to test the acceptability and feasibility of an online training program that aims to encourage more positive interpretation bias in high worrying PwP. Participants complete an online baseline assessment, and are then invited to complete ten training sessions over a period of three weeks followed by another assessment and follow-up assessments (at 1 month \& 3 months). Participants are randomized into either the active condition or control condition. Across both conditions, participants will listen to short, everyday scenarios which are ambiguous (could end positively or negatively). In the active condition, a positive ending is given in half of the scenarios. In the other half, participants are instructed to imagine positive endings to ambiguous scenarios. In the control condition, all scenarios end ambiguously and no instructions are given about imagining positive endings.
The primary aim of the study is to test the acceptability and feasibility of the online training platform. Participants will complete a feasibility interview after completing the training. Specifically, the acceptability of the following will be tested: i) the online nature of the training (and lack of face-to-face contact); ii) being randomised into one of the two conditions; iii) the number and duration of the assignments; and iv) the text messages/e-mail/phone call reminders to complete the assignments. The feasibility of the online training platform will be judged on the i) rate of recruitment; ii) retention rates during the training; iii) adherence to the study (i.e., number of assignments completed); iv) retention rates at follow-up. The secondary aim is to estimate the effect size of the active condition (vs. control; on worry scores post-training, and at follow-ups) to inform power analyses for a future randomised control trial.
It is hypothesised that the training will be acceptable and feasible in a high worrying PwP sample. It is also hypothesised that the training will be effective in reducing worry and improving interpretation bias.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- UNKNOWN
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 60
- Diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease
- can use a computer independently
- have (correct to) normal hearing
- scores above 62 on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire
- Those who have previously taken part in lab-based studies at King's College London where measures of interpretation bias were included.
- Currently or have recently (past six months) received psychological treatment.
- If participants are currently taking anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication, they need to have been stable on the same dose for at least six weeks.
- Participants who score 2 or higher on the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire-- (measuring suicidal ideation) at screening will be excluded.
- If individuals do not have regular access to a computer and/or the internet, they will be excluded.
- Those who can not concentrated on the questions asked during the Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status, or are confused by the questions asked.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Active Interpretation bias training - Control Interpretation bias training -
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Acceptability; rating of online training At approximately 4 weeks (during the feasibility interview) Whether participants accept the online nature of the training (extent of positive feedback compared to negative feedback)
Training feasibility; rate of recruitment From recruitment start (moment when Parkinson's UK [United Kingdom] advertise the study) till study close (either end of November, 2019, or when the recruitment target is met; approximately 5 months) The feasibility of the training based on the rate of recruitment
Training feasibility; study adherence Assignments are completed over three weeks, with a possibility of a one week extension for those who have not completed at least 8 in the three weeks. The feasibility of the training based on the adherence to the study (number of assignments completed)
Acceptability; duration of assignments At approximately 4 weeks (during the feasibility interview) Whether participants accept the duration of assignments
Acceptability; number of assignments At approximately 4 weeks (during the feasibility interview) Whether participants accept the number of assignments
Acceptability; reminders At approximately 4 weeks (during the feasibility interview) Whether participants accept the text messages/e-mail/phone call reminders
Acceptability; randomisation Participants are asked during the eligibility call prior to starting the training if they are happy to be randomised. As such, acceptability to be randomised is at baseline. Proportion of eligible participants who agree to being randomised to those who do not agree
Training feasibility; retention at one-month follow-up Duration of study (approximately 5 months) The feasibility of the training based on the retention rates at follow-up (i.e., number of missing cases or drop outs at the one month follow-up)
Training feasibility; retention at three-month follow-up Duration of study (approximately 5 months) The feasibility of the training based on the retention rates at follow-up (i.e., number of missing cases or drop outs at the three month follow-up)
Acceptability; lack of face-to-face contact At approximately 4 weeks (during the feasibility interview) Whether participants accept the lack of face-to-face contact
Training feasibility; retention rates Duration of study (approximately 5 months) The feasibility of the training based on the retention rates during the training
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Decrease in worry (estimation of effect size); post-training Baseline worry scores will be compared to worry scores after the training (assessment 2; completed approximately 3 weeks later) The extent that worry has changed from before to after training in the active condition compared to the control condition based on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (scores can range from 16 to 80; higher scores indicate more worry)
Decrease in worry (estimation of effect size); at one-month follow-up Baseline worry scores will be compared to worry scores at the one-month follow-up The extent that worry has changed from before training to the one month follow-up in the active compared to the control condition, as mediated by post-training worry scores, based on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (scores can range from 16 to 80; higher scores indicate more worry)
Decrease in worry (estimation of effect size); at three-months follow-up Baseline worry scores will be compared to worry scores at the three-months follow-up The extent that worry has changed from before training to three months after training in the active condition compared to the control condition, as mediated by post-training worry scores, based on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (scores can range from 16 to 80; higher scores indicate more worry)
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
King's College London
🇬🇧London, United Kingdom