NCT01704456

Brief Summary

This randomized trial, nicknamed the COMFORT (Cognitive therapy or Mindfulness FOR Treatment of pvd) study, will compare the effects of an 8-session group Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to an 8-session group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for women with provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Women with PVD will be randomly assigned to attend either eight sessions of group MBCT or CBT. Each session is 2.25 hours long and spaced 1 week apart. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the 8-session MBCT intervention for PVD is no worse than an 8-session CBT intervention for decreasing women's pain intensity, sexual distress, catastrophizing and hypervigilance towards pain.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
130

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2012

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 22, 2012

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 1, 2012

Completed
10 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 11, 2012

Completed
3.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2016

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2017

Completed
2.5 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

March 10, 2020

Completed
Last Updated

March 10, 2020

Status Verified

February 1, 2020

Enrollment Period

3.9 years

First QC Date

August 22, 2012

Results QC Date

October 9, 2019

Last Update Submit

February 25, 2020

Conditions

Keywords

provoked vestibulodyniadyspareuniavulvodyniamindfulnesscognitive behavioural therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Change in Vulvslgesiometer Pain Rating From Baseline to One Month Post-treatment to 6 Months Post-treatment

    The investigators have selected pain intensity during a controlled examination as the primary endpoint in this study. Specifically, pain intensity at the vulvar vestibule will be assessed using a vulvalgesiometer. The vulvalgesiometer is an instrument that provides a measure of pain/sensitivity that can be standardized across time points. The vulvalgesiometer is calibrated to exert a fixed amount of pressure. In this study, 30 grams of pressure at the 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11 o'clock positions (randomly) around the vestibule will be applied using the vulvalgestiometer. Women will also report their pain at each site using a numeric rating scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain ever).

    Pre-treatment, one month post-treatment and 6 months post-treatment.

Secondary Outcomes (7)

  • Self-reported Pain During Penetration

    Pre-treatment,one month post-treatment, and 6 months follow-up.

  • Sexual Function

    Pre-treatment, one month post-treatment, and 6 months post-treatment.

  • Sexual Distress

    Pre-treatment, one month post-treatment, and 6 months post-treatment.

  • Pain Catastrophizing

    Pre-treatment, one month post-treatment, and 6 months post-treatment..

  • Pain Hypervigilance

    Pre-treatment, one month post-treatment, and 6 months post treatment.

  • +2 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Women in the MBCT Group Treatment arm will receive the treatment in small group format (8-9 women). Each session will be 2.25 hours in duration and there will be eight, weekly sessions over the course of 2 months. Session content includes education about chronic pain, PVD, stress and sexual response, mindfulness practices, and cognitive techniques to notice thought patterns that contribute to increased pain.

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Women in the CBT Group Treatment arm will receive the treatment in small group format (8-9 women). Each session will be 2.25 hrs in duration and there will be eight, weekly sessions over the course of 2 months. Session content includes education about chronic pain, PVD, stress and sexual response, behavioural techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive techniques to challenge unhealthy thinking patterns, and communication skills training.

Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Interventions

The MBCT intervention will be administered in small group format (8-9 women). Each session will be 2.25 hours in duration and there will be eight, weekly sessions over the course of 2 months. Session content includes education about chronic pain, PVD, stress and sexual response, mindfulness practices, and cognitive techniques to notice thought patterns that contribute to increased pain.

Also known as: MBCT
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

The CBT intervention will be administered to women in small group format (8-9 women). Each session will be 2.25-hrs in duration and there will be eight, weekly sessions over the course of 2 months. Session content includes education about chronic pain, PVD, stress and sexual response, behavioural techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, cognitive techniques to challenge unhealthy thinking patterns, and communication skills training.

Also known as: CBT
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Eligibility Criteria

Age19 Years+
Sexfemale
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • diagnosis of provoked vestibulodynia (PVD)
  • years of age or older
  • premenopausal
  • fluent in English
  • during the study, women must agree not to change any medications they are taking for PVD.

You may not qualify if:

  • unprovoked vulvar pain, other pathology causing pain with penetration, or chronic pelvic pain
  • being uncomfortable and unwilling to participate in a group setting.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

British Columbia Centre for Sexual Medicine

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada

Location

Department of Gynaecology

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Brotto LA, Zdaniuk B, Rietchel L, Basson R, Bergeron S. Moderators of Improvement From Mindfulness-Based vs Traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Provoked Vestibulodynia. J Sex Med. 2020 Nov;17(11):2247-2259. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.07.080. Epub 2020 Aug 22.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

DyspareuniaVulvodynia

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Genital Diseases, FemaleFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesGenital DiseasesGenital Diseases, MaleSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalMale Urogenital DiseasesSexual Dysfunctions, PsychologicalMental DisordersVulvar Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

MindfulnessBehavior TherapyPsychotherapyBehavioral Disciplines and Activities

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr Lori Brotto
Organization
UBC

Study Officials

  • Lori A Brotto, PhD

    University of British Columbia

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 22, 2012

First Posted

October 11, 2012

Study Start

October 1, 2012

Primary Completion

September 1, 2016

Study Completion

September 1, 2017

Last Updated

March 10, 2020

Results First Posted

March 10, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-02

Locations