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Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Targeting Cardiac Anxiety

Not Applicable
Active, not recruiting
Conditions
Online CBT Targeting Cardiac Anxiety
Interventions
Behavioral: MI-CBT
Registration Number
NCT05580718
Lead Sponsor
Karolinska Institutet
Brief Summary

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate an internet-delivered exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) protocol tailored for patients following myocardial infaction (MI) to increase Quality of Life (Qol) and physical activity by reducing cardiac anxiety.

Detailed Description

In the present research project, the investigators have tailored a CBT protocol to target the hypothesized mechanisms of how cardiac anxiety affects the clinical course of MI; by using exposure therapy to reduce fear, hypervigilance, and misinterpretations of cardiac symptoms to reduce MI-related avoidance and increasing physical activity.

Participants (estimated N=100) are randomized to internet-delivered CBT for 8 weeks or to a waitlist offered treatment as usual. Patients in the control arm will be crossed over to CBT treatment 3 months after the experimental group has completed treatment. Assessments will be conducted pre-treatment, post-treatment, 3 months (primary endpoint), 1-, 2 - and 5 years after treatment. These measurement points will also include the control group as it is crossed over to CBT after the 3-month follow-up

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
96
Inclusion Criteria
  • Inclusion criteria:
  • Myocardial infarction ≥ 6 months before assessment (type 1 STEMI/NSTEMI)
  • Age 18-80 years;
  • Clinically significant cardiac anxiety that leads to severe distress and/or interferes with daily life
  • On adequate medical treatment(21); (E) Able to read and write in Swedish.
Exclusion Criteria
  • heart failure with severe systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤ 35%)
  • Significant valvular disease
  • Planned coronary artery bypass surgery or percutaneous interventions
  • Any medical restriction to physical exercise
  • Severe medical illness
  • Grade 3 hypertension (i.e., blood pressure ≥ 180 systolic and/or 110 diastolic)
  • Severe psychiatric disorder or risk of suicide
  • Alcohol dependency
  • Ongoing psychological treatment.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Online CBT targeting cardiac anxietyMI-CBTCBT for MI primarily targets two processes of MI-related disability: fear of cardiac-related symptoms avoidance behavior and physical inactivity. The CBT is therapist-guided and lasts for 8 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Seattle Angina QuestionnaireFrom baseline to 5 months

A measure of coronary artery disease on five scales: physical limitation scale, anginal stability scale, anginal frequency scale, treatment satisfaction scale, and the disease. perception scale with a score ranging from 0 to 100. A higher score indicating a better quality of life.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body Sensation QuestionnaireFrom baseline to 5 years and 2 months

Fear of bodily symptoms, score ranging from 0 to 72 . Higher scores indicate more fear of body sensations.

Cardiac anxiety questionnaireFrom baseline to 5 year and 2 months

Measure of cardiac anxiety, fear, avoidance and attention. The score ranges between 0 and 72, with a greater score indicating elevated cardiac anxiety.

Symptom checklist Severity and Frequency Scale (SCL, adapted to coronary artery disease)From baseline to 5 years and 2 months

Cardiac-related symptoms in two sub scales A) frequency: score ranging from 0-48, with higher score indicating higher frequency of symptoms, B) severity of experienced symptom: score ranging from 0- 48, with a higher score indicating more severe symptoms

Perceived stress scale 4-itemBaseline to 5 years and 2 months

Stress reactivity. Score ranges 0-16 and a greater score indicate more perceived stress.

Seattle Angina QuestionnaireFrom baseline to 5 years and 2 months

A measure of coronary artery disease on five scales: physical limitation scale, anginal stability scale, anginal frequency scale, treatment satisfaction scale, and the disease perception scale. With a score ranging from 0 to 100. A higher score indicating a better quality of life.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-itemFrom Baseline to 5 years and 2 months

General anxiety, score ranging from 0-21, with a higher score indicating more anxiety and worry.

12-Item Short-Form Health SurveyFrom baseline to 5 year and 2 months

General quality of life, with a score ranging from 0 to 100. A higher score indicating a better quality of life

Myocardial infarction behavior questionnaireFrom baseline to 5 years and 2 months

MI-related avoidance questionnaire behaviors developed by the research group. score ranging from 0 to 68 . Higher scores indicate more avoidance behavior.

Lifestyle factors: The national Board of health and Welfare questionnaireBaseline to 5 years and 2 months

Questionnaire regarding diet (5 item), tobacco (2 item) and alcohol (3 item) diet (5 item), tobacco (2 item) and alcohol (3 item) and BMI.

Healthcare consumption and work loss:Tic-PFrom baseline to 5 years and 2 months

The Trimbos and Institute of Medical Technology Assessment Cost Questionnaire for Psychiatry assesses societal cost during the last month. These costs include the participant's health care consumption (direct medical costs), time spent in other health promoting activities (direct non-medical costs), and sick leave, unemployment, and reduced work capacity at work and in the domestic realm (indirect non-medical costs).

Patient Health Questionnaire-9From Baseline to 5 years and 2 months

Measure of depression, score ranging 0 to 27 with a higher score indicating higher level of depression

The Godin Leisure-time Exercise and International Physical Activity Questionnaire 1 item on inactivityBaseline to 5 years and 2 months

Level of physical activity and inactivity: On the Godin leisure-time excercise: The participant rate numbers of time per week that they engage in physical activity. The numb ers are the categorized in to low, moderate, and high levels of physical activity. And from International Physical Activity Questionnaire we will use 1 item on inactivity

University of Toronto Atrial fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS)From Baseline to 5 years and 2 months

3 item on cardiac-specific healthcare consumption. Scores ranges 0-15 with a higher score indicating more cardiac-related healthcare consumption.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Karolinska University Hospital

🇸🇪

Stockholm, Sweden

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