Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

iCBT for Cardiac Anxiety in Patients With NCCP

Sweden126 participantsStarted 2024-03-15

Plain-language summary

Non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) is a common condition that significantly affects patients' mental well-being, overall quality of life, and healthcare use. Even after ruling out cardiac issues, many patients still worry about having an undiagnosed cardiac illness, leading to cardiac anxiety since no other explanation is provided. Consequently, they avoid activities they believe might harm their heart, worsening their overall health and resulting in increased healthcare visits and societal costs. Addressing cardiac anxiety through psychological interventions could help break this viscious cycle and enhance patient outcomes. Internet-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) can assist patients in reassessing their perceptions, emotions and behaviours in order to handle their chest pain and therby reduce their cardiac anxiety. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of a guided 8-week iCBT program on cardiac anxiety, generalized anxiety, kinesiophobia, fear of body sensations, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, chest pain frequency and illness perception. Also to examine how participants' personality traits influence the effectiveness of the iCBT program. Furthermore, to assess the cost-effectiveness of the iCBT program compared to attention control. In addition, we will explore the perceptions of participants regarding the therapeutic alliance during the treatment.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * experience of non-cardiac chest pain * exhibiting cardiac anxiety (score ≥24 on the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, CAQ) Exclusion Criteria: * language difficulties * patients with no access to computer/tablet and/or Internet * not able to perform physical activity/exercise due to physical constraints * severe psychological disorders or chronic somatic illness assessed to be requiring acute treatment or to hinder participation

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Cardiac Anxiety

Timeframe: Measurements will be performed before and after the intervention (8 weeks), and 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the end of the intervention.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06136494

SponsorLinkoeping University

Sponsor typeOTHER_GOV

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-02

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Non-cardiac Chest Pain trials