CBT Plus SMC Compared to SMC for Persistent Physical Symptoms in Secondary Care (PRINCE) (PRINCE)

May 7, 2019 updated by: King's College London

The PRINCE Secondary Study: Persistent Physical Symptoms Reduction Intervention: a System Change and Evaluation in Secondary Care

Brief Summary: Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS), also known as medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) is a term used to describe a range of persistent bodily symptoms for which the exact cause is unclear. Between 20 and 40% of patients in primary care, and about 50% in secondary care experience PPS. Not only are PPS common, but the overlap across different patient groups may indicate that these phenomena are transdiagnostic. PPS are associated with profound disability and high health care costs, and if left untreated the prognosis of these patients is poor. There is an accumulating body of evidence demonstrating that cognitive behavioural interventions can reduce levels of symptoms and improve functioning in patients with PPS. A pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) was designed to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) + Standard Medical Care (SMC) versus Standard Medical Care alone, in the treatment of patients with PPS. The trial will focus on patients with a variety of symptoms (e.g., non-cardiac chest pain, fibromyalgia), across secondary care clinics (e.g., neurology, cardiology, and rheumatology).

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.

Detailed Description

Background and study aims In primary care between 20 and 40% of patients have medically unexplained physical symptoms. The term medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) is commonly used by health care professionals. However a survey of a healthy population and a separate survey of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) suggested that the term persistent physical symptoms (PPS) was the preferred term. The term PPS may have its drawbacks, but it will be used in the rest of this document to cover MUS as well as any other terms that may be used in the literature and clinical settings to refer to these symptoms. In secondary care, about 50% of patients have PPS, in many specialties. PPS are associated with profound disability and high health care costs. Around 50% of sufferers have co-morbid anxiety and depression and sleep problems. Left untreated, the prognosis of these patients is poor.

This study is a pragmatic RCT that will evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy + standard medical care (CBT+SMC), which involves 8 sessions of CBT, versus standard medical care (SMC) in the treatment of patients with PPS.

Who can participate? Patients with various PPS, such as fibromyalgia, non-cardiac chest pain, irritable bowel syndrome and a range of neurological symptoms e.g., weakness will be recruited. Participants will be recruited from clinics in secondary care (e.g., neurology, cardiology, rheumatology) at various hospitals in London.

What does the study involve? Potential participants will be identified by clinical staff who will refer them to the research team. Patients who give their consent to take part in the study will complete a number of questionnaires asking about their symptoms and use of health care services, and about their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs related to their PPS (i.e., baseline). This will take approximately 1.5 hours. After this research assessment, half of participants will be randomly assigned to the treatment arm (CBT+SMC), or to the control (SMC) arm. Participants in the treatment arm will receive 8 individual sessions of CBT (weekly or fortnightly sessions). The therapy aims to help the patient develop an understanding of the relationship between cognitive, physiological and behavioural aspects of their problem; to understand factors that may be maintaining the problem and to learn how to modify their behavioural and cognitive responses in order to improve their quality of life. Participants in the SMC group will receive usual medical care within the clinic.

Participants in both arms will also be asked to complete questionnaires at 9, 20, 40, and 52 weeks after randomisation. The assessment will be independent of the health care professionals delivering care.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? By taking part in the study patients may get helpful information about their condition. If assigned to the CBT+SMC arm, patients will receive 8 sessions of CBT focused on helping them manage their symptoms, which may improve their symptoms and increase their psychosocial functioning. It is unclear whether CBT for patients with PPS is effective; this trial will assess whether there are benefits to receiving it. Patients may benefit from being followed up closely and completing measures. It is not expected that participation in the study is associated with risks. The therapists involved in the trial are highly qualified specialists with extensive experience in treating patients with PPS. The trial team also includes a psychiatrist who will further ensure patient safety in complex cases. Participants will be free to take a break at any point during the meetings and are free to withdraw from the study at any point. Participants will also be informed that they can raise any concerns they may have with the research team and will be provided with the Patient Advice & Liaison Service contact information.

Where is the study run from? The study has been set up by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London and the South London and Maudsley National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, and will be conducted at several hospitals in London/Greater London, including Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals, King's College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? The study has started in July 2015 and the end date for the project is March 2019.

Who is funding the study? The study is funded by the Guy's and St. Thomas' Charity.

Who is the main contact? Prof Trudie Chalder trudie.chalder@kcl.ac.uk

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.
324

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 Kingdom
      • London, United Kingdom
        • Queen Elizabeth Hospital
      • London, United Kingdom
        • King's College Hospital
      • London, United Kingdom
        • Royal Free Hospital
      • London, United Kingdom
        • Guy's Hospital
      • London, United Kingdom
        • St Thomas' Hospital
      • London, United Kingdom
        • University Hospital Lewisham
      • Orpington, United Kingdom
        • Princess Royal University Hospital

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 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

  • Adults (18 - 70 yrs)
  • Patients with PPS from broad patient populations (e.g., fibromyalgia, non-cardiac chest pain, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, neurological symptoms);
  • Significant functional impairment/moderately severe disability - as indicated by the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) score (i.e., a minimum score of 10);
  • Ability to complete diaries and questionnaires in English;
  • Willingness to complete all trial visits;
  • Ability to give written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active psychosis;
  • Factitious disorder;
  • Headaches as the only PPS;
  • Non-epileptic seizures
  • Current alcohol dependence or drug addiction as assessed by the clinician;
  • Current benzodiazepine use exceeding the equivalent of 10mg diazepam/day;
  • The patient is currently receiving CBT/CBT based approach psychotherapy, or has received CBT/CBT based approach psychotherapy in the past year, for their PPS;
  • The patient is thought to be at imminent risk of self-harm;
  • Patient is taking part in PRINCE Primary trial.

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: CBT+SMC

Cognitive behavioural therapy + Standard Medical Care (cognitive-behavioural therapy+SMC):

8 hour-long manual-based CBT sessions with a therapist, weekly or fortnightly.
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Behavioral: Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) The CBT intervention used in the trial has been adapted for people with PPS and it is based on a model of understanding PPS (Deary et al 2007). The therapy aims to help the patient develop an understanding of the relationship between cognitive, physiological and behavioural aspects of their problem; to understand factors that may be maintaining the problem and to learn how to modify their behavioural and cognitive responses in order to improve quality of life. The approach is transdiagnostic in that it targets processes and underlying mechanisms that affect disorders similarly, rather than focusing on how they are diagnostically different. The approach is personalised during therapy following a detailed assessment.
No Intervention: Standard Medical Care (SMC)
Participants assigned to the SMC group (i.e., control group) will receive all the treatment and support they would otherwise receive outside of a research trial.

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
Work and social adjustment scale
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures impairment in functioning
52 weeks post randomisation

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
Persistent Physical Symptom Questionnaire
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures severity, distress, interference and problematic nature of PPS
52 weeks post randomisation
Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15)
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures physical symptoms severity
52 weeks post randomisation
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures mood
52 weeks post randomisation
Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures generalised anxiety
52 weeks post randomisation
Clinical Global Impression (CGI)
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures patient's perception of their general health improvement
52 weeks post randomisation
Client Service Receipt Inventory (CSRI)
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures health care service receipt, direct and indirect costs of illness, and cost-effectiveness of interventions
52 weeks post randomisation
EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D)
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures health outcome
52 weeks post randomisation
Cognitive Behavioural Responses Questionnaire
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures beliefs and behaviours
52 weeks post randomisation
Acceptance scale
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
assesses degree of acceptance of difficult symptoms
52 weeks post randomisation

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
PSYCHLOPS
Time Frame: 52 weeks post randomisation
Measures improvement of patient-defined self-rated problems
52 weeks post randomisation

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.
King's College London

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Trudie Chalder, PhD, King's College London

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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.
July 1, 2015

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.
January 1, 2019

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.
January 1, 2019

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).
April 22, 2015

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.
April 22, 2015

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.
April 27, 2015

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 9, 2019

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 7, 2019

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.
August 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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.
  • STR130202 (Secondary)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

No

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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