Addressing Cognitive Fog in Long-COVID-19 Patients

Randomized Study to Evaluate Strategies to Address Cognitive Fog in Long-COVID-19 Patients

This study will assess two options to help patients better manage the cognitive fog and emotional distress that may be associated with having Long-COVID. Long-COVID is post-COVID conditions or symptoms lasting more than four weeks after infection. Clinicians from the UPMC Long-COVID Clinic leading this study are evaluating the utility of computer-based evaluation of COVID-related cognitive fog and the helpfulness of two intervention strategies to treat moderate cognitive impairment using a randomized trial. The two intervention strategies include 1) a standardized dosing of amphetamine/dextroamphetamine medication that has been used to improve cognitive fog; and 2) a digital behavioral tool with an embedded health coach that is used on a mobile phone.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Cognitive Impairment; Long COVID
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Digital cognitive behavioral intervention-RxWell; Drug: Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine

Detailed Description

Eligible participants will be randomized to one of two arms. One intervention targets cognitive fog associated with depression (RxWell mobile app), the other the cognitive fog directly (Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine medication). Two weeks after randomization, participants are contacted by study staff to complete the GAD7. Participants who are randomized to RxWell will be offered assistance if they were not able to download the app on their own. Participants who are randomized to receive the stimulant will also complete a stimulant drug side effect rating scale to determine if the participant has any effects from the medication.

All participants will complete computerized neurocognitive assessments (ImPACT, and BrainCheck) and other study measures (MOCA (Screen, 1.5 and 3 months), Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Measure, Satisfaction with Life Scale, PCL-5 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder checklist, ADHD Symptom Screener, and Sheehan Disability Scale) at baseline, 1.5 (interim) and 3 months after randomization. The study measures, other than the neuro-cognitive assessments, will be completed via REDCap.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 7
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
      • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• History of SARS-CoV-2 infection as defined as a positive PCR or home antigen test
• Patients with Long-COVID as defined as COVID symptoms that persist for three months or longer.
• Between the ages of 21 and 65
• Moderate cognitive impairment (MOCA score to meet criteria is < or =18) present for at least 3 months
• Response of "No" to the screening question, "Are you pregnant or do you plan to become pregnant in the next 3 months?"
• Access to a smartphone

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of dementia, psychosis, mania, addiction or current conditions requiring immediate hospitalization
• Previous adverse or allergic reaction to Adderall or other amphetamines
• Pre-existing cardiac or kidney condition, severe hypertension, glaucoma, advanced arteriosclerosis, hyperthyroidism, and taking an MAOI within the past 14 days
• Current or past substance misuse
• Previous use of RxWell (completed 3 or more techniques)
• Current use of amphetamine-dextroamphetamine
• History of uncontrolled blood pressure
• Subjects taking Methylphenidate; Lisdexamfetamine; non-Adderall amphetamine products; Atomoxetine; Viloxazine; Modafinil; Armodafinil; Nortriptyline and other tricyclic drugs; Bupropion; Tramadol; and Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) drugs (including Linezolid).
• Inability to pay for study medication.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Digital cognitive behavioral intervention- RxWell; The mobile app provides users with brief skill building techniques such as relaxation, behavioral activation and exposure, distress tolerance, cognitive reframing, and mindfulness meditation, for anxiety and depression. The content of RxWell was developed based on standard CBT techniques for treating anxiety disorders and depression. The user will have the option to select either the depression or anxiety program, and the coach will have the ability to personalize the program so that the individual can utilize the proper CBT techniques that fits with their presentation. The health coach communicates with RxWell users via asynchronous, secure within app messaging. They reinforce CBT principles, guide users through goal setting, and help users work through challenges and recognize successes. The coaches will also receive individualized cognitive rehabilitation tips from the speech therapist after their appointment with the participant.	Behavioral: Digital cognitive behavioral intervention-RxWell; RxWell is a coach enhanced digital behavioral health intervention that teaches techniques to help manage emotional distress, which may improve cognitive fog and/or depression. Participants will have access to this app for three months.
Active Comparator: Stimulant Medication; The other intervention is a stimulant medication known to reduce cognitive impairment in other chronic medical conditions, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The Long-COVID psychiatrist will order the medication and the participant will be scheduled for a 6-week research tele visit with the psychiatrist to monitor for any medication side effects. Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine drug dose will be 10mg daily for 12 weeks, and no dose changes will be made. Amphetamine-dextroamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance that has a risk for abuse, tolerance, and psychological dependence, which can be associated with severe social disability.	Drug: Amphetamine-Dextroamphetamine; Participants randomized to this arm will be prescribed 10mg of amphetamine-dextroamphetamine to take as needed to help with cognitive fog. Participants in this arm will be contacted at 2 and 6 weeks to assess for any side effects from taking the medication.; Other Names: Adderall

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Cognitive Impairment - MOCA	The MOCA is a validated screening tool that provides a total score to assess for mild cognitive impairment.	Compare baseline to 12 weeks
Change in Cognitive Impairment - BrainCheck	BrainCheck is an FDA approved validated, automated, remote neurocognitive assessments in multiple domains.	Compare baseline to 12 weeks
Change in Cognitive Impairment - ImPACT	ImPACT is an FDA approved computerized neurocognitive concussion assessment tool that provides composite sores to evaluate cognitive abilities.	Compare baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Depression - PHQ8	Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ8) will be utilized to measure change in depression severity from baseline up to 12 weeks after baseline. The PHQ-8 is an 8 item questionnaire. Scores can range from 0-24. A score of 0-4 indicates no depressive symptoms; 5-9 indicates mild depressive symptoms; 10-19 indicates moderate depressive symptoms; 20-24 indicates severe depressive symptoms.	Compare baseline up to 12 weeks
Change in Quality of Life - SWLS	Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) will be utilized to measure change in quality of life from baseline up to 12 weeks after baseline. SWLS is a five item measure with a maximum score of 35. Higher score correlate with higher satisfaction of life. Scores 31-35 extremely satisfied. Scores less than 9 indicate extremely dissatisfied.	Compare baseline up to 12 weeks
Change in Disability	Sheehan Disability Scale assess functional impairment in three inter-related domains; work/school, social and family life. The three items are summed into a single measure of global functional impairment that ranges from 0 (unimpaired) to 30 (highly impaired).	Compare baseline up to 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Eva Szigethy
• Collaborators: The Beckwith Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Eva Szigethy, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 4, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 18, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): May 18, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 27, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 27, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): October 28, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 22, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 26, 2024
• Last Verified: May 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cognitive fog, Long-COVID
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Lung Diseases; Disease Attributes; Chronic Disease; Post-Infectious Disorders; COVID-19; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Adrenergic Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors; Membrane Transport Modulators; Dopamine Agents; Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Sympathomimetics; Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; Amphetamine; Dextroamphetamine; Adderall
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY22050191

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared. Data is shared at the aggregate level.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No