Adjusting to Chronic Conditions Using Education, Support, and Skills (ACCESS)

The current study seeks to test the effectiveness of a talk-therapy intervention designed to better meet the needs of chronically ill Veterans. This project looks to recruit 450 Veterans with either chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure (HF) who also have symptoms of worry, stress, anxiety, or sadness. Participants will be randomly put into either the talk-therapy intervention or enhanced usual care. The talk therapy intervention will be provided by VA clinicians in the primary care setting and will consist of 6 core meetings (30-45 minutes in duration) and 2 follow-up telephone meetings. Enhanced usual care participants will receive feedback regarding the assessment findings and educational materials on COPD and/or HF, depression and anxiety.

Diseases of the heart and circulatory system, namely, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Heart Failure (HF), are two of the most common and disabling chronic diseases. Both COPD and HF account for significant disability, mortality, and healthcare costs and are associated with lower health status and more functional and social limitations than other chronic illnesses, such as hypertension and diabetes. As our population ages and life span increases, the numbers of patients with these conditions and the subsequent healthcare costs will increase dramatically. The symptoms associated with COPD and HF can significantly affect daily functioning. Physical symptoms are often linked to increased levels of psychological distress, namely, anxiety and depression, which significantly affect quality of life and functioning above and beyond the impact of the medical disease. As depression and anxiety are modifiable clinical factors, there is a potential to significantly alter patient outcomes, as well as use of healthcare services. However, focused interventions are needed, given the high risk for poor mental health treatment and underuse of mental health services in persons with COPD and HF. Unfortunately, few intervention studies have been conducted in medically ill patients with these conditions. The current project will examine whether existing VA clinicians in the primary care setting, with training and support, can effectively administer a structured Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) intervention for depressed and anxious Veterans with COPD and HF.

Medically ill patients received six-sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy tailored to their unique needs. Patients received 2 core modules and 3 elective modules. Elective modules focused on physical health, cognitive restructuring, behavioral activation, and relaxation. The six session was a wrap up that everyone received. Patients also had the option to receive 2 follow-up booster sessions to aid in maintenance of skills learned.

Patients in this arm received feedback about their physical and emotional health functioning and were still able to receive usual primary care services.

Participants received 6 treatment sessions (2 core and 4 electives). The two core modules are increasing awareness and controlling physical and emotional symptoms. After completion of the core modules the participant was able to choose elective modules from Managing Physical Health, The Power of Thoughts, Increasing Pleasant Activities, and Relaxation. Participants were required to complete the first session in person and subsequent sessions participants had the option to complete in-person or over the phone. Participants also had the option to receive 2 brief follow-up booster calls to aid in reinforcing the changes made.

The PHQ-9 measures an individual's level of depression. The measure is summed and ranges from 0 - 27 (individual item score range 0 - 3 per 9 items); where higher scores = worse symptoms.

The BAI measures an individual's level of anxiety. The measure is summed and ranges from 0 - 63 (individual item score range 0 -3 per 21 items); were higher scores = worse symptoms.

The Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) measures the quality of life of patients with a chronic respiratory disease. This subscale measures the amount of fatigue patients experience with the condition. The CRQ is a mean score and ranges from 1 - 7, where a higher score = better health.

The Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) measures the quality of life of patients with a chronic respiratory disease. The subscale Mastery looks at the patient's perceived control over the condition. The CRQ is a mean score and ranges from 1 - 7, where a higher score = better health

The Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) measures the quality of life of patients with a chronic respiratory disease. The subscale Dyspnea looks at how much shortness of breath a patient experiences. The CRQ is a mean score and ranges from 1 - 7, where a higher score = better health.

The KCCQ measures the health status of patients with congestive heart failure. The overall score is a mean score scaled from 0 - 100; where 0 represents most severe/limited functioning.

Inclusion Criteria: COPD and/or HF diagnosis; confirmation based upon medical chart review. clinically significant symptoms for anxiety and/or depression. Exclusion Criteria: cognitive impairment presence of bipolar, psychotic or substance abuse disorder.

Mignogna J, Hundt NE, Kauth MR, Kunik ME, Sorocco KH, Naik AD, Stanley MA, York KM, Cully JA. Implementing brief cognitive behavioral therapy in primary care: A pilot study. Transl Behav Med. 2014 Jun;4(2):175-83. doi: 10.1007/s13142-013-0248-6.

Cully JA, Curry AD, Ryan SR, Malik A, Zeno D, Willcockson IU. Development of a computer-aided training program for brief cognitive-behavioral therapy in primary care. Acad Psychiatry. 2013 Mar 1;37(2):120-4. doi: 10.1176/appi.ap.11040078. No abstract available.

Cully JA, Armento ME, Mott J, Nadorff MR, Naik AD, Stanley MA, Sorocco KH, Kunik ME, Petersen NJ, Kauth MR. Brief cognitive behavioral therapy in primary care: a hybrid type 2 patient-randomized effectiveness-implementation design. Implement Sci. 2012 Jul 11;7:64. doi: 10.1186/1748-5908-7-64.

Mignogna J, Cully J. Depression and Anxiety in Patients with COPD: A Focus on Psychological Treatments in Ambulatory Care Settings. Current respiratory medicine reviews. 2012 Apr 1; 8(2):137-144(8).

Hundt NE, Bensadon BA, Stanley MA, Petersen NJ, Kunik ME, Kauth MR, Cully JA. Coping mediates the relationship between disease severity and illness intrusiveness among chronically ill patients. J Health Psychol. 2015 Sep;20(9):1186-95. doi: 10.1177/1359105313509845. Epub 2013 Dec 1.

Breland JY, Hundt NE, Barrera TL, Mignogna J, Petersen NJ, Stanley MA, Cully JA. Identification of Anxiety Symptom Clusters in Patients with COPD: Implications for Assessment and Treatment. Int J Behav Med. 2015 Oct;22(5):590-6. doi: 10.1007/s12529-014-9450-2.

Hundt NE, Renn BN, Sansgiry S, Petersen NJ, Stanley MA, Kauth MR, Naik AD, Kunik ME, Cully JA. Predictors of response to brief CBT in patients with cardiopulmonary conditions. Health Psychol. 2018 Sep;37(9):866-873. doi: 10.1037/hea0000595.

Mignogna J, Martin LA, Harik J, Hundt NE, Kauth M, Naik AD, Sorocco K, Benzer J, Cully J. "I had to somehow still be flexible": exploring adaptations during implementation of brief cognitive behavioral therapy in primary care. Implement Sci. 2018 Jun 5;13(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s13012-018-0768-z.

Renn BN, Hundt NE, Sansgiry S, Petersen NJ, Kauth MR, Kunik ME, Cully JA. Integrated Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Improves Illness Intrusiveness in Veterans With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Ann Behav Med. 2018 Jul 13;52(8):686-696. doi: 10.1093/abm/kax045.

Thakur ER, Sansgiry S, Petersen NJ, Stanley M, Kunik ME, Naik AD, Cully JA. Cognitive and Perceptual Factors, Not Disease Severity, Are Linked with Anxiety in COPD: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study. Int J Behav Med. 2018 Feb;25(1):74-84. doi: 10.1007/s12529-017-9663-2.

Cully JA, Stanley MA, Petersen NJ, Hundt NE, Kauth MR, Naik AD, Sorocco K, Sansgiry S, Zeno D, Kunik ME. Delivery of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Medically Ill Patients in Primary Care: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial. J Gen Intern Med. 2017 Sep;32(9):1014-1024. doi: 10.1007/s11606-017-4101-3. Epub 2017 Jun 20.