Guided Internet Delivered Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy for Persons With Spinal Cord Injury: A Feasibility Trial

NCT03457714 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2017-104
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

In Canada the prevalence of spinal cord injury (SCI) is approximately 85,556, with incidence rates of traumatic and non-traumatic SCI at 1,785 and 2,286 cases per year, respectively. Common secondary health conditions experienced by individuals with SCI include psychological distress and pain. Appropriate management of these secondary conditions, through a multidisciplinary approach, is imperative as they have been shown to contribute to slower recovery, increased negative outcomes, and greater rates of rehospitalizations and health care utilization. However, resource limitations can restrict the ability of service providers to deliver these integrative biopsychosocial approaches in the community. In Canada over 37% of individuals with SCI expressed a need for emotional counselling; of these, only 43% felt that these needs were met. Transportation can also be a significant issue for persons with SCI, with 87% and 73% respectively expressing a need for short- and long-distance transportation. Guided internet delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) program offers an alternative approach for psychosocial service delivery in the community. The program provides online structured self-help modules based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in combination with guidance from a coach through weekly emails and telephone calls. ICBT has shown to have a greater reduction in levels of anxiety and depression post treatment compared to a waitlist control group, and these levels were maintained at both 3 and 12 month follow-ups. ICBT was shown to have similar effects to face-to-face CBT. These studies demonstrate that guided ICBT is a safe and effective alternative to face-to-face interventions and it may be beneficial for under serviced populations. Hence, examination of its effectiveness is warranted in the SCI population which faces various psychological and somatic secondary issues. Participants with SCI will receive a 8 week guided ICBT program called the Chronic Conditions Course for persons with SCI. The program is completed over 8 weeks with once a week guidance from a coach. The guided course consists of five lessons, "Do It Yourself" activities, and case vignettes adapted from persons with SCI. The course also provides guidance and resources on other essential skills for persons with SCI, including communicating with health care professional, managing chronic pain, and sleep hygiene. Psychosocial outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 8 weeks, and at 3 months. Data on intervention usage and satisfaction measures will also be examined through a qualitative interview. Caregivers of participants will be asked to complete self-report measures and a qualitative interview regarding their caregiver burden.

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries; Depression; Anxiety

Keywords

spinal cord injuries; anxiety; depression; internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy; pilot study

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in depression

  Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 Item (PHQ-9). Higher total scores indicate greater severity of depression. Scores range from 0 to 27.

  baseline, start of each Lesson 2-5, 8 weeks, 3 months

• Change in anxiety

  Generalize Anxiety Disorder - 7 Item (GAD7). Higher total scores indicate greater severity of anxiety. Scores range from 0 to 21

  baseline, start of each Lesson 2-5, 8 weeks, 3 months

• Change in Caregiver Burden from baseline to 8 weeks (Caregivers of persons with SCI only)

  Caregiver burden questionnaire. The tool has 12 items. Total scores ranging from 0 to 18. Higher scores indicate greater burden

  baseline, 8 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Pain (Persons with SCI only)

  baseline, 8 weeks, 3 months

• Pain interference (Persons with SCI only)

  baseline, 8 weeks, 3 months

• Quality of life (Persons with SCI only)

  baseline, 8 weeks, 3 months

• Service usage (Persons with SCI only)

  baseline, 8 weeks, 3 months

• Quality of Life (Caregivers of persons with SCI only)

  baseline, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year follow up

Study Arms (1)

Guided I-CBT for persons with SCI

Persons with spinal cord injury

Behavioral: Guided ICBT for persons with Spinal Cord Injury; Other: Survey

Interventions

Guided ICBT for persons with Spinal Cord Injury BEHAVIORAL

An 8-week guided internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) will be delivered to participants who have sustained a spinal cord injury. In addition to the online program, a guide with experience delivering ICBT will provide support by email or telephone once a week. The guide will spend approximately 15 minutes per week/per client.

Guided I-CBT for persons with SCI

Survey OTHER

Caregiver burden and mental health will be assessed through online questionnaires.

Guided I-CBT for persons with SCI

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Any individual with a spinal cord injury will be recruited through primary care physicians, rehabilitation facilities, and community peer groups.

You may qualify if:

• years of age or older
• residing in Canada
• diagnosed with spinal cord injury
• able to access a computer and internet service
• willing to provide a physician as emergency contact

You may not qualify if:

• high suicide risk
• suicide attempt or hospitalization in the last year
• primary problems with psychosis, alcohol or drug problems, mania
• currently receiving active psychological treatment for anxiety or depression
• not present in Canada during treatment
• concerns about online therapy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Regina: lead

Study Sites (1)

Online Therapy Unit, University of Regina

Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Mehta S, Hadjistavropoulos HD, Earis D, Titov N, Dear BF. Patient perspectives of Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy for psychosocial issues post spinal cord injury. Rehabil Psychol. 2019 Aug;64(3):351-359. doi: 10.1037/rep0000276. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

  PMID: 30958020 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries; Depression; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Surveys and Questionnaires

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Spinal Cord Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Trauma, Nervous System; Wounds and Injuries; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Data Collection; Epidemiologic Methods; Investigative Techniques; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Study Officials

• Swati Mehta, PhD

  University of Regina

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Heather D Hadjistavropoulos, PhD

  University of Regina

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 7, 2017
• First Posted: March 7, 2018
• Study Start: September 7, 2017
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2018
• Study Completion: December 31, 2018
• Last Updated: April 19, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)