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Distance-Based Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for High Anxiety Sensitivity: A Randomized Controlled Trial

NCT01194765 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 180

Last updated 2014-01-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Anxiety disorders are common pervasive conditions with serious psychosocial implications. Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is one individual characteristic that has been implicated in the onset and maintenance of anxiety disorders (Schmidt et al., 1999). AS is an enduring fear of anxiety-related arousal sensations (i.e., increased heart rate) that arises from the tendency to interpret these sensations catastrophically, believing that they will have serious physical, psychological, or social consequences (Reiss, 1991).

Research has shown the efficacy of CBT in decreasing AS among women with high AS (Watt et al., 2006). Unfortunately, access to effective psychological treatments is limited by a number of barriers such as a lack of treatment availability or qualified clinicians in an area. As such, we are conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the effectiveness of a distance-based CBT program on decreasing AS among those with high AS. A distance delivery approach (e.g., via telephone) is one way to minimize treatment barriers and increase access to care while still delivering empirically supported treatment. Recent research suggests distance delivery is promising (Lovell et al., 2006).

The RCT will consist of an eight-week structured CBT program based on Watt and Stewart's (2008) brief CBT for AS. The program will include weekly modules on psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure, and relapse prevention. Participants with high AS will be recruited and randomly assigned to the treatment condition or wait-list control (after twelve weeks the wait-list group will receive treatment). In the treatment condition, participants will be assigned weekly reading and homework from the treatment manual. In addition, a therapist will guide them through the treatment by providing individualized support and feedback through weekly half-hour telephone sessions. Treatment outcomes will be assessed through changes in AS levels and anxiety symptoms pre- to post-treatment. Also, participants' satisfaction with the mode of treatment delivery will be assessed. We hypothesize that this treatment program will be effective in reducing high AS and anxiety symptom frequency and severity. We also expect this project to yield information about the utility of distance treatment delivery for mental health care.

Conditions

  • Anxiety Sensitivity

Interventions

OTHER

Distance-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Participants will engage in cognitive behavioural therapy to treat high anxiety sensitivity. Treatment will be delivered over the telephone.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Dalhousie University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Janine V Olthuis, BA (Honours) · Dalhousie University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2011-01-31
Primary Completion
2012-08-31
Completion
2012-12-31

Countries

  • Canada

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01194765 on ClinicalTrials.gov