Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Educational Program for People Living With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and education program can help improve mental health, disease knowledge, and quality of life in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a feasibility study, meaning researchers want to find out if this online treatment program is practical, acceptable, and effective enough to use in a larger future study.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can internet-based CBT and disease education help participants feel less anxious, depressed, or stressed? Can this online program help participants better manage COPD symptoms and improve their quality of life? How easy and acceptable do participants find the online CBT and educational program?

Researchers will measure the following outcomes to see how well the program works:

Quantitative outcomes (using questionnaires and tests):

Depression symptoms (using Patient Health Questionnaire-9, PHQ-9) Anxiety symptoms (using Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, GAD-7) Stress levels (using Perceived Stress Scale, PSS) Quality of life related to COPD (using St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire, SGRQ, and EuroQol-5 Dimensions, EQ5D) COPD-specific symptoms and impact on daily life (using COPD Assessment Test, CAT) Breathlessness severity during daily activities (using Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale, MRC) Physical capacity (using a 6-minute walk test) Lung function (using spirometry, a breathing test)

Qualitative outcomes (using interviews):

Participants' experiences and satisfaction with the internet-based therapy and education What participants think helps or hinders them from engaging with the online program How the program affects participants' daily lives and how they cope with COPD

Participants in the study will:

Take part in an internet-based CBT and education program designed specifically for COPD lasting 8-10 weeks. They can complete the program from home.

Answer questionnaires about mental health, stress, quality of life, COPD symptoms, and breathlessness before and after completing the program.

Visit the clinic two times (before and after the program) for breathing tests (spirometry) and physical capacity tests (6-minute walking test).

Some participants (10-15) will also participate in an interview to discuss their experiences and how they feel about the online treatment program.

The results of this study will help researchers understand whether internet-based CBT and COPD education is helpful and practical enough to study in a larger clinical trial in the future.

Conditions

• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with ACT and COPD Education

Participants receive an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention combined with education specifically developed for COPD. The CBT program includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) components. The intervention lasts 8-10 weeks and consists of several online modules. Modules cover topics such as coping strategies, mindfulness techniques, disease knowledge, and symptom management. Participants complete the modules at home via a secure online platform, with regular support and feedback from trained healthcare professionals. The program aims to improve mental health, reduce anxiety and depression, enhance COPD knowledge, and help participants manage symptoms and daily life more effectively.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Jonas Agholme

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Jonas Agholme, Medical Doctor · Region Östergötland

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-05-12

Primary Completion

2025-11-20

Completion

2025-12-15

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations