The effects of reducing worry in patients with persecutory delusions: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
The effects of reducing worry in patients with persecutory delusions: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
BACKGROUND: Our approach to advancing the treatment of psychosis is to focus on key single symptoms and develop interventions that target the mechanisms that maintain them. In our theoretical research we have found worry to be an important factor in the development and maintenance of persecutory delusions. Worry brings implausible ideas to mind, keeps them there, and makes the experience distressing. Therefore the aim of the trial is to test the clinical efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for worry for patients with persecutory delusions and determine how the worry treatment might reduce delusions.
METHODS: An explanatory randomized controlled trial - called the Worry Intervention Trial (WIT) - with 150 patients with persecutory delusions will be carried out. Patients will be randomized to the worry intervention in addition to standard care or to standard care. Randomization will be carried out independently, assessments carried out single-blind, and therapy competence and adherence monitored. The study population will be individuals with persecutory delusions and worry in the context of a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis. They will not have responded adequately to previous treatment. The intervention is a six-session cognitive-behavioral treatment provided over eight weeks. The control condition will be treatment as usual, which is typically antipsychotic medication and regular appointments. The principal hypotheses are that a worry intervention will reduce levels of worry and that it will also reduce the persecutory delusions. Assessments will be carried out at 0 weeks (baseline), 8 weeks (post treatment) and 24 weeks (follow-up). The statistical analysis strategy will follow the intention-to-treat principle and involve the use of linear mixed models to evaluate and estimate the relevant between- and within-subjects effects (allowing for the possibility of missing data). Both traditional regression and newer instrumental variables analyses will examine mediation. The trial is funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC)/NHS National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme.
DISCUSSION: This will be the first large randomized controlled trial specifically focused upon persecutory delusions. The project will produce a brief, easily administered intervention that can be readily used in mental health services.Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN23197625.
223
Freeman, Daniel
b90a2f85-f05c-40e8-a592-e1545fae654c
Dunn, Graham
ffc12c0e-b002-43fd-bdf7-60e17f4b4871
Startup, Helen
a1d210d2-a4d7-4c2c-bb75-32338bb5eef4
Kingdon, David
14cdc422-10b4-4b2d-88ec-24fde5f4329b
21 November 2012
Freeman, Daniel
b90a2f85-f05c-40e8-a592-e1545fae654c
Dunn, Graham
ffc12c0e-b002-43fd-bdf7-60e17f4b4871
Startup, Helen
a1d210d2-a4d7-4c2c-bb75-32338bb5eef4
Kingdon, David
14cdc422-10b4-4b2d-88ec-24fde5f4329b
Freeman, Daniel, Dunn, Graham, Startup, Helen and Kingdon, David
(2012)
The effects of reducing worry in patients with persecutory delusions: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.
Trials, 13 (1), .
(doi:10.1186/1745-6215-13-223).
(PMID:23171601)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Our approach to advancing the treatment of psychosis is to focus on key single symptoms and develop interventions that target the mechanisms that maintain them. In our theoretical research we have found worry to be an important factor in the development and maintenance of persecutory delusions. Worry brings implausible ideas to mind, keeps them there, and makes the experience distressing. Therefore the aim of the trial is to test the clinical efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for worry for patients with persecutory delusions and determine how the worry treatment might reduce delusions.
METHODS: An explanatory randomized controlled trial - called the Worry Intervention Trial (WIT) - with 150 patients with persecutory delusions will be carried out. Patients will be randomized to the worry intervention in addition to standard care or to standard care. Randomization will be carried out independently, assessments carried out single-blind, and therapy competence and adherence monitored. The study population will be individuals with persecutory delusions and worry in the context of a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis. They will not have responded adequately to previous treatment. The intervention is a six-session cognitive-behavioral treatment provided over eight weeks. The control condition will be treatment as usual, which is typically antipsychotic medication and regular appointments. The principal hypotheses are that a worry intervention will reduce levels of worry and that it will also reduce the persecutory delusions. Assessments will be carried out at 0 weeks (baseline), 8 weeks (post treatment) and 24 weeks (follow-up). The statistical analysis strategy will follow the intention-to-treat principle and involve the use of linear mixed models to evaluate and estimate the relevant between- and within-subjects effects (allowing for the possibility of missing data). Both traditional regression and newer instrumental variables analyses will examine mediation. The trial is funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC)/NHS National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme.
DISCUSSION: This will be the first large randomized controlled trial specifically focused upon persecutory delusions. The project will produce a brief, easily administered intervention that can be readily used in mental health services.Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN23197625.
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Freeman et al. 2012.pdf
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Published date: 21 November 2012
Organisations:
Faculty of Medicine
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Local EPrints ID: 346351
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/346351
ISSN: 1745-6215
PURE UUID: beff91f0-ba19-46a6-a60a-545b7a82f550
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Date deposited: 15 Jan 2013 13:22
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:36
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Author:
Daniel Freeman
Author:
Graham Dunn
Author:
Helen Startup
Author:
David Kingdon
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