Internet-delivered CBT for NCCP-patients - a Pilot Trial

Linköping University (LiU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Fear; Chest Pain; Anxiety

Treatments: Behavioral: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02336880

I-CBT in NCCP

Details and patient eligibility

About

This pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a guided internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy intervention in the treatment of cardiac anxiety and fear of body sensations in patients with non-cardiac chest pain. The control group will receive care-as-usual.

Full description

Despite reassurance, many patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) think they have an undetected cardiac disease and avoid activities that they think might be harmful to their heart. These patients need help and support to evaluate the way they perceive and handle their chest pain. Therefore, we have developed a 4 session guided intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy that will be delivered via internet.

The intervention consists of psychoeducation, exposure to physical activity, and a breathing-based relaxation exercise. The goal with the intervention is to help the participants modify their beliefs about chest pain, change their cognitive and behavioural strategies, and give them tools to handle chest pain to prevent them from relapse.

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• recurrent chest pain that has been diagnosed as non-cardiac at least twice during last 6 months
• patients screened positive for avoidance of physical activity due to cardiac anxiety and/or fear of body sensations

Exclusion criteria

• no regular access to a computer/tablet computer with internet connection
• language difficulties
• not able to perform physical activity/exercise test due to physical constraints
• patients with severe depressive symptoms
• patients with acute ischemic heart disease

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

4 weeks guided internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy program. The program consists of psychoeducation, exposure to physical activity, and a breathing-based relaxation exercise

Treatment:

Behavioral: Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy

Control group

No Intervention group

Description:

Care as usual