Patient-centered Treatment of Anxiety After Low-Risk Chest Pain in the Emergency Room
PACER
1 other identifier
interventional
375
1 country
5
Brief Summary
The goal of this research is to compare the benefits and risks of three anxiety treatments that are pragmatic, graduated in the level of resource intensity, and have demonstrated efficacy and feasibility for real world adoption.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Apr 2021
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
5 active sites
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
March 19, 2021
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
March 23, 2021
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
April 1, 2021
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
August 17, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
August 17, 2025
CompletedJuly 30, 2024
July 1, 2024
4.4 years
March 19, 2021
July 28, 2024
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (4)
Anxiety Symptoms
General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score adjusted for baseline. 0-4: minimal anxiety 5-9: mild anxiety 10-14: moderate anxiety 15-21: severe anxiety
3 months after enrollment
Anxiety Symptoms
General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score adjusted for baseline. 0-4: minimal anxiety 5-9: mild anxiety 10-14: moderate anxiety 15-21: severe anxiety
6 months after enrollment
Anxiety Symptoms
General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score adjusted for baseline. 0-4: minimal anxiety 5-9: mild anxiety 10-14: moderate anxiety 15-21: severe anxiety
9 months after enrollment
Anxiety Symptoms
General Anxiety Disorder-7 scale score adjusted for baseline. 0-4: minimal anxiety 5-9: mild anxiety 10-14: moderate anxiety 15-21: severe anxiety
12 months after enrollment
Secondary Outcomes (33)
Panic Symptoms
3 months after enrollment
Panic Symptoms
6 months after enrollment
Panic Symptoms
9 months after enrollment
Panic Symptoms
12 months after enrollment
Chest Pain
3 months after enrollment
- +28 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (3)
Primary care follow-up
ACTIVE COMPARATOREnhanced primary care coordination
Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
ACTIVE COMPARATOROnline Self-Administered Anxiety Management Program plus Peer Support Guidance
Therapist-Administered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
ACTIVE COMPARATORTelehealth 8 one-hour sessions over the course of 8 to 10 weeks
Interventions
Those randomized to primary care and enhanced primary care coordination will receive the minimal intensity treatment that includes: (1) assistance in identifying a primary care provider for participants who do not have one, (2) sharing results of diagnostic testing (including anxiety screening) with the primary care provider (results sent via EMR note, mailed letter, or delivered by participant at appointment); and (3) an educational brochure on anxiety and treatment.
Individuals randomized to the online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) + peer support guidance arm will receive access to six online, evidence-based CBT modules in the This Way Up Generalized Anxiety Course to be completed weekly or bi-monthly. Individuals who screen positive on the PHQ panic measure will complete 2 additional panic-specific homework assignments applying exposure therapy to panic (in addition to Generalized Anxiety Disorder) experiences aligned with content from the This Way Up Panic Course.
Individuals randomized to therapist-led CBT via telehealth will receive 8 one-hour sessions over the course of 8 to 10 weeks via telehealth (HIPAA compliant software such as Zoom Health or AmWell) or telephone. Therapists will be master's-degreed or eligible clinicians trained in CBT by our study psychologist. Therapists will follow a manualized protocol for delivering CBT for anxiety, specifically, with a primary focus on anxiety and worry management. Individuals who screen positive on the PHQ panic measure will have training in exposure therapy added to CBT. Although many CBT trials have a standard length of 12 sessions, brief CBT lasting 4-8 sessions is equally efficacious.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adult emergency department (ED) patients (≥18yoa) presenting to the ED
- Within 1 week of ED presentation if discharged at time of screening.
- Chief complaint of chest pain or similar chief complaint leading to a standard of care diagnostic protocol to rule out possible acute coronary syndrome.
- HEART Score of 0-3 indicating Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) risk equivalent to ≤2%
- "Functionally" low risk status - (moderate HEART score of 4-6) plus diagnostic protocol evaluation with at least two serial normal troponins spaced at least six hours apart with or without cardiovascular stress testing in the observation unit.
- Moderate to severe anxiety as defined by a GAD-7 score ≥ 8 or a PHQ panic screener score ≥ 2
- Expected to be discharged from the ED or only undergo observation \<24 hours.
You may not qualify if:
- \> 1 week from ED discharge
- Traumatic reason for chest pain
- Those admitted to the hospital (inpatient status) as part of their ED presentation (those placed in the observation unit for planned observation less than \<24 hours are eligible)
- Active psychosis or behavioral issues requiring psychiatric monitoring or consultation of psychiatry for psychosis, schizophrenia, or suicidal ideation
- Hemodynamic instability as assessed by the treating provider
- Issues likely to affect follow up, including prisoners and homelessness
- Inability to understand and speak English to participate in telehealth therapy sessions and peer support.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Indiana Universitylead
- Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institutecollaborator
Study Sites (5)
Indiana University Health West Hospital
Avon, Indiana, 46123, United States
Indiana University Health North Hospital
Carmel, Indiana, 46032, United States
Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital
Fishers, Indiana, 46037, United States
Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202, United States
Indiana University Health Ball Memorial Hosptial
Muncie, Indiana, 47303, United States
Related Publications (52)
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PMID: 41436014DERIVEDDang L, Kroenke K, Connors J, Stump TE, Monahan PO, Chernyak Y, Holmes E, Hoffman C, Prather K, Musey PI. Psychological Comorbidity in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Low-Risk Chest Pain and Anxiety. Acad Emerg Med. 2025 Aug 8. doi: 10.1111/acem.70113. Online ahead of print.
PMID: 40781746DERIVEDConnors JN, Kroenke K, Monahan P, Chernyak Y, Pettit K, Hayden J, Montgomery C, Brenner G, Millard M, Holmes E, Musey P. Comparing the effectiveness of existing anxiety treatment options among patients evaluated for chest pain and anxiety in the emergency department setting: Study protocol for the PACER pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2023 Jan;124:107020. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.107020. Epub 2022 Nov 21.
PMID: 36423863DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Paul Musey, MD
Indiana University
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- SINGLE GROUP
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Director of Research
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 19, 2021
First Posted
March 23, 2021
Study Start
April 1, 2021
Primary Completion
August 17, 2025
Study Completion
August 17, 2025
Last Updated
July 30, 2024
Record last verified: 2024-07
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share