NCT06374238

Brief Summary

The study, known as the Peer suppoRt for adolescents and Emerging adults with Sickle cell pain: promoting ENgagement in Cognitive behavioral thErapy (PRESENCE), aims to determine the effectiveness of digital CBT in reducing pain, opioid use, and healthcare utilization among AYAs with SCD. It also seeks to understand the role of personalized peer support in enhancing engagement and outcomes of digital CBT interventions. By leveraging existing infrastructure for delivering virtual peer support interventions, tailored digital CBT programs for individuals with SCD, and partnerships with CBOs, the study aims to provide valuable insights into the feasibility and effectiveness of digital CBT as a pain management strategy for this vulnerable population.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
470

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable pain

Timeline
23mo left

Started Mar 2025

Longer than P75 for not_applicable pain

Geographic Reach
1 country

14 active sites

Status
recruiting

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

Study Progress40%
Mar 2025May 2028

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

April 15, 2024

Completed
3 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

April 18, 2024

Completed
11 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

March 10, 2025

Completed
2.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 1, 2027

Expected
10 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 1, 2028

Last Updated

January 7, 2026

Status Verified

September 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

2.3 years

First QC Date

April 15, 2024

Last Update Submit

January 5, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

Sickle Cell DiseasePain managementCognitive Behavioral TherapyWellness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Determine the effectiveness of any digital CBT (CBT + peer or self-guided CBT) vs usual care (UC) to improve pain intensity for AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Mean change in pain intensity as measured by the Pain, Enjoyment of Life and General Activity (PEG-3) scale. Item 1 asks individuals to rate their pain, on average, over the past week, using a 0-10 rating scale.

    Baseline and 6 months

  • Determine the effectiveness of any digital CBT (CBT + peer or self-guided CBT) vs usual care (UC) to improve pain interference for AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Mean change in pain interference as measured by the PEG-3 items 2 and 3 that ask individuals to rate how pain has interfered with their enjoyment and general activities, in the past week, using a 0-10 rating scale.

    Baseline and 6 months

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Determine the effectiveness of CBT+ peer vs. self-guided CBT to improve pain intensity for AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Baseline and 6 months

  • Determine the effectiveness of CBT+ peer vs. self-guided CBT to improve pain interference for AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Baseline and 6 months

  • Determine the sustained effectiveness of any digital CBT (CBT + peer or self-guided CBT) vs UC to improve pain intensity for AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Baseline and 12 months

  • Determine the sustained effectiveness of any digital CBT (CBT + peer or self-guided CBT) vs UC to improve pain interference for AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Baseline and 12 months

  • Determine the sustained effectiveness of CBT+ peer vs self-guided CBT to improve pain intensity of AYAs with SCD and chronic pain

    Baseline and 12 Months

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (3)

CBT w/ Health Coach

EXPERIMENTAL

Group will utilize the Presence app to undergo self CBT for EMA, but with addition of peer health coaches.

Behavioral: CBT+ Health coach

CBT w/o Health coach (self-guided)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Group will utilize the Presence app to undergo self-guided CBT for EMA, but without peer health coaches.

Behavioral: CBT w/o Health Coach ( self-guided)

Usual Care with no access to CBT

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the UC group will have access to CaRISMA app to complete a daily pain and mood e-diary, daily record of opiate use, and weekly assessment of pain via the Painimation tool. All other care will be at the discretion of their treating provider

Behavioral: Usual Care

Interventions

Participants will complete the pre-enrollment clinical screening measures (PHQ-9M, GAD-7, and PEG-3) and will repeat those assessments, as well as outcome assessments, at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants in CBT w/ Health coach group will engage with the CaRISMA app to complete a daily pain and mood e-diary, daily record of opiate use, and weekly assessment of pain via the Painimation tool. In addition participants will have weekly contact with a peer health coach.

Also known as: CBT+peer
CBT w/ Health Coach

Participants will complete the pre-enrollment clinical screening measures (PHQ-9M, GAD-7, and PEG-3) and will repeat those assessments, as well as outcome assessments, at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants CBT w/o Health coach groups will engage with the CaRISMA app to complete a daily pain and mood e-diary, daily record of opiate use, and weekly assessment of pain via the Painimation tool.

CBT w/o Health coach (self-guided)
Usual CareBEHAVIORAL

Participants will complete the pre-enrollment clinical screening measures (PHQ-9M, GAD-7, and PEG-3) and will repeat those assessments, as well as outcome assessments, at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months. Participants in the UC group will be asked to engage with the CaRISMA app to complete a daily pain and mood e-diary, daily record of opiate use, and weekly assessment of pain via the Painimation tool. All other care will be at the discretion of their treating provider

Usual Care with no access to CBT

Eligibility Criteria

Age16 Years - 30 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Aged 16 to 30 years of age at time of enrollment
  • Sickle Cell Disease diagnosis of any genotype based on referral or documentation
  • Reports chronic pain (≥4 days/week for past 3 months or more) OR A) Being prescribed pain medication to be taken (≥4 days/week for past 3 months or more) OR B) Taking pain medication (≥4 days/week for past 3 months or more) OR C) Receiving non-pharmaceutical pain treatment (≥4 days/week for past 3 months or more)
  • Access to an iOS or Android mobile device with internet access

You may not qualify if:

  • Unable to speak or read English
  • Prior hematopoietic stem cell transplant for sickle cell disease

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (14)

University of South Alabama Medical Center

Mobile, Alabama, 36617, United States

RECRUITING

UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital Ronald Reagan Hospital

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

RECRUITING

Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Hartford, Connecticut, 06106, United States

RECRUITING

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

Atlanta, Georgia, 30345, United States

RECRUITING

Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

RECRUITING

The Regents of the University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1079, United States

RECRUITING

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Newark, New Jersey, 07103, United States

RECRUITING

Weil Cornell Medical College

New York, New York, 10065, United States

RECRUITING

University of Rochester Medical Center

Rochester, New York, 14642, United States

RECRUITING

Wake Forest Baptist Hospital

Durham, North Carolina, 27106, United States

RECRUITING

East Carolina University Health Medical Center

Greenville, North Carolina, 27834, United States

RECRUITING

UPMC University of Pittsburgh Classical Hematology Adult Clinic

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

RECRUITING

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15224, United States

RECRUITING

Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, 23284, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

PainAnemia, Sickle CellAgnosia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurologic ManifestationsSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsAnemia, Hemolytic, CongenitalAnemia, HemolyticAnemiaHematologic DiseasesHemic and Lymphatic DiseasesHemoglobinopathiesGenetic Diseases, InbornCongenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and AbnormalitiesPerceptual DisordersNeurobehavioral ManifestationsNervous System Diseases

Study Officials

  • Charles Jonassaint, PhD

    University of Pittsburgh

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Ana Radovic, MD

    University of Pittsburgh

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Alicia Colvin, PhD

    University of Pittsburgh

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Steffi Siebert, MPH

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Model Details: Three-arm, phase III randomized controlled effectiveness trial. Participants will be randomized 3:3:2 into (1) CBT + peer, (2) self-guided CBT, or (3) UC, stratified by site
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

April 15, 2024

First Posted

April 18, 2024

Study Start

March 10, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2028

Last Updated

January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations