Pilot Study of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Bipolar I Disorder

May 10, 2017 updated by: Andrew A. Nierenberg, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Transdiagnostic Treatment for Anxiety and Bipolar I Disorder

The specific goal of this research study is to investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a transdiagnostic, cognitive-behavioral therapy developed specifically to target common core processes across mood and anxiety disorders [Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP)], for the treatment of patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I) and comorbid anxiety. The study will compare treatment-as-usual with pharmacotherapy (TAU) plus 18 one-hour sessions of treatment with the UP to TAU alone. Patients in both treatment conditions will be followed over a 12-month period and will be assessed monthly to track changes in mood, anxiety and emotion-related symptoms; functional impairment; and relapse rates. Data on the acceptability of the treatment will be gathered concurrently through monthly patient self-reported ratings of treatment satisfaction, and by tracking rates of acceptance for randomization into the study, number of completed sessions, and dropout rates. The study will examine: 1) whether combined cognitive behavioral treatment (UP) for BD-I and comorbid anxiety disorders is an acceptable and feasible approach to treatment; 2) whether treatment with the UP for BD-I and comorbid anxiety disorders as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy treatment-as-usual (TAU) leads to greater symptom reduction and reduced functional impairment than pharmacotherapy alone, 3) whether treatment for BD-I and comorbid anxiety disorders with the UP improves relapse rates over a 6-month follow-up relative to TAU; and 4) whether reduction in symptoms, relapse rates, and functional impairment are mediated by changes in emotion regulation skills. The broader aim of this study is to address the need for improved treatments for bipolar disorder.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
34

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
        • Massachusetts General Hospital Bipolar Clinic and Research Program

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men and women age 18-65
  • DSM-IV diagnosis of bipolar I disorder and at least one of three additional anxiety disorders:

generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social phobia.

  • HAM-D-17 score <16 (i.e. depressive symptoms)
  • YMRS score < 12 (i.e. no or very low manic symptoms)
  • Current, stabilized (> 3 months) pharmacotherapy treatment under the care of a psychiatrist consisting of optimized, stable maintenance pharmacotherapy at maximum tolerated dosages according to Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithm.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active suicidality (HAM-D-17 suicide item #3 score > 3) in the past 2 months. Potential participants scoring 3 or higher on the HAM-D-17 suicide item will be immediately evaluated by the PI and Sponsor and referred to a higher level of care if clinically indicated.
  • DSM-IV bipolar I disorder subtype rapid cycling
  • DSM-IV manic or mixed episode in the past 2 months
  • DSM-IV major depressive episode in the past 2 months
  • Psychotropic medication not in accordance with the revised Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithm
  • Current Pregnancy
  • Medical illness or non-psychiatric medical treatment that would likely interfere with study participation.
  • Neurologic disorder, previous ECT, or history of head trauma (i.e. known structural brain lesion)
  • Current or past history of selected DSM-IV Axis I disorders other than bipolar disorder including: organic mental disorder, substance abuse within the past 12 months and/or history of substance abuse for > 1 year; current substance dependence (including alcohol), as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR, Substance Use Disorders (Section E); schizophrenia, delusional disorder, psychotic disorders not otherwise specified, obsessive compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (due to low prevalence of ~6.5% each).
  • Concurrent psychotherapy other than cognitive-behavioral therapy as provided in this study (to rule out other uncontrolled effects of concurrent psychotherapies)
  • Presence of metallic implants that would interfere with safety during fMRI scanning (i.e. cardiac pacemaker, metal plates, etc.)
  • Claustrophobia

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment as usual plus UP CBT
Existing psychiatrist-administered psychopharmacotherapy plus weekly transdiagnostic CBT
Behavioral: UP CBT
The UP is an 18-session weekly cognitive behavioral intervention for anxiety and mood disorders
Other Names:
  • Unified Protocol (UP) for transdiagnostic treatment of emotional disorders
Active Comparator: Treatment as usual
Existing psychiatrist-administered psychopharmacotherapy
Drug: Treatment as usual
Existing optimized pharmacotherapy as delivered by treating psychiatrist

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Reductions Over Time in Anxiety Symptoms as Measured by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale
Time Frame: Six months
The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) is a well-validated clinician administered rating of anxiety-related symptoms. Ratings are made on a 0 (no symptoms) to 4 (most severe in frequency/duration/interference/distress) for each item (14 items), with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 56 calculated by summing scores of all 14 items. Higher scores indicate greater impairment.
Six months
Reductions Over Time in Depression Symptoms as Measured by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Time Frame: Six months
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) is a well-validated clinician administered rating of depression-related symptoms. Scores are calculated by summing scores across all 17-items, with a minimum score of 0 and a maximum score of 54. Higher scores indicate greater impairment.
Six months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Treatment Acceptability as Measured by Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ)
Time Frame: Six months
The Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) is an 8-item scale that assesses perceptions of acceptability and quality of outpatient treatment. Ratings are made on a 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent) scale for each item and then summed for a total score, with a minimum score of 8 and a maximum score of 32. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with treatment.
Six months
Association Between Anxiety Symptom Change (HAM-A) and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
Time Frame: Six Months
Emotion regulation skills were assessed using a measure of emotion regulation (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale- DERS), a 36-item Likert-type scale (1-6) calculated by averaging scores across all items. See Baseline Characteristics for baseline DERS score. See Primary Outcome Measure for a description of HAM-A.
Six Months
Association Between Anxiety Symptom Change (HAM-A) and Reaction to Emotions (Affective Control Scale-ACS)
Time Frame: 6 months
Reactions to emotions, were assessed using the Affective Control Scale, or ACS, a 42-item Likert-type scale (1-7) calculated by averaging scores across all items. See Baseline Characteristics for baseline ACS score. See Primary Outcome Measure for description of HAM-A.
6 months
Association Between Anxiety Symptom Change (HAM-A) and Anxiety Sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index-ASI)
Time Frame: 6 months
Anxiety sensitivity, were assessed using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index, or ASI, a 16-item Likert-type scale (0-4) calculated by summing scores across items. See Baseline Characteristics for baseline ASI scores. See Primary Outcome Measures for a description of HAM-A.
6 months
Association Between Anxiety Symptom Change (HAM-A) and Neuroticism (NEO Five-Factor Inventory- NEO-FFI-N)
Time Frame: 6 months
Neuroticism was assessed using the NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI-N) which is a subscale of the NEO-FFI, a 60-item Likert-type scale (1-5) calculated by summing scores for each subscale. Only the 15-item Neuroticism subscale is included in this study. See Baseline Characteristics for baseline NEO-FFI-N. See Primary Outcome Measure for description of HAM-A.
6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Association Between Change on Depression (HAM-D) and Baseline Resting State Functional Connectivity of Anterior Insula and Ventrolateral Prefrontal Cortex
Time Frame: Six Months
Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) data (non-task, eyes opened) was acquired to investigate anterior insula and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex functional connectivity as a predictor of change on depression (HAM-D). See primary outcome description of HAM-D.
Six Months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Massachusetts General Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2013

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2014

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 1, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 1, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 4, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 12, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 10, 2017

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1F32MH098490-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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