Remote-delivered MBCT for SCAD Survivors

Remote-delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Target Fear of Recurrence Among SCAD Survivors

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an important cause of cardiac events, primarily affecting young healthy women with no cardiovascular risk factors. The 10-year recurrence rate is 30%, but SCAD recurrence cannot be predicted. Approximately half of SCAD survivors struggle with significant anxiety and fear of recurrence (FOR), which contributes to poor sleep and physical inactivity and, thereby, increased risk of recurrence. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week group intervention with evidence to improve FOR and health behaviors (sleep, physical activity), through psychological mechanisms that directly target key FOR processes (interoceptive bias, intolerance of uncertainty). I adapted MBCT to target FOR, sleep, and physical activity in cardiac event survivors via group videoconferencing delivery (UpBeat-MBCT), however this intervention has not yet been targeted to SCAD survivors. I propose an open pilot trial to test the feasibility, acceptability, and changes in psychological and behavioral health variables in SCAD survivors participating in UpBeat-MBCT (N=16). Participants will be recruited from the MGH SCAD Program and asked to complete self-report surveys and actigraphy before and after the intervention. The primary outcomes are feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and research procedures. Exploratory outcomes are changes in psychological and behavioral variables and their inter-correlations. This project would be the first and only behavioral intervention for SCAD survivors and would provide preliminary data for an NIH Stage II efficacy trial to develop an accessible and efficacious intervention for a vulnerable group of SCAD survivors, with generalizability to survivors of other cardiac events.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week group intervention (1.5-hour weekly sessions) that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness training to treat emotional problems.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is an 8-week group intervention (1.5-hour weekly sessions) that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness training. In this study, MBCT has been adapted to include education about cardiac health and fear of recurrence, and the intervention is delivered remotely via synchronous group videoconference. There is 15-20 minutes of daily mindfulness practice between sessions. Participants are provided a home practice record form and asked to submit the completed form to study staff each week.

Feasibility will be assessed by >70% of eligible patients enroll and <20% ineligible due to each criterion

Feasibility of survey completion will be assessed by >70 pre-intervention and post-intervention surveys completed, >70% daily diaries completed for 7 consecutive days, <20% missing data on daily diaries

Feasibility of videoconferencing delivery will be assessed by <20% of sessions missed due to videoconference problems and <20% connections dropped during session

Acceptability of surveys and daily diaries will be assessed by ease of survey completion (1=not at all, 10=extremely, M<7.0) and level of survey interference in daily life (1=not at all, 10=extremely, M<2.0)

Acceptability of actigraphy will be assessed by ratings of ease of actigraphy completion (1=not at all, 10 =extremely, M>7.0)

Acceptability of the UpBeat-MBCT intervention will be assessed by >70% of home practice completed <3days/week

Intervention acceptability will be assessed by >70% plan to use the skills and would recommend the program to others

Intervention perspectives will be assessed by likes, dislikes, and suggestions for program improvement reported in the exit interview

The multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore levels of non-judgmental body awareness before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

The Cognitive Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore levels of trait mindfulness before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

The Experiences Questionnaire, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore levels of trait cognitive de-centering before and after the intervention (i.e., the ability to notice mental events as transient objects separate from the self), including daily diaries

The Distress Tolerance Scale, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore levels of the ability to withstand negative emotional states before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

The Body Vigilance Scale, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore attentional bias, hypervigilance, and sensitivity toward physical sensations around the chest before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale-12, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore the ability to tolerate uncertainty before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

The Assessment of Survivor Concerns, a validated self-report survey, will be used to explore the severity of fears of recurrent cardiac events before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

Sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and sleep onset latency will be assessed by self-report survey via the Consensus Sleep Diary before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

Sleep duration, sleep efficiency, and sleep onset latency will be assessed via Actigraphy (7 consecutive days before and after the intervention)

Moderate-vigorous physical activity engagement will be assessed by self-report survey via the Physical Activity Vital sign before and after the intervention, including daily diaries

Moderate-vigorous physical activity, total steps, and sedentary time will be assessed via Actigraphy (7 consecutive days)

Inclusion Criteria: Age >18 years Cardiologist-confirmed diagnosis of SCAD in the past 1-12 months English-speaking and reading Internet access (via computer or mobile device). Exclusion Criteria: Terminal illness with life expectancy <1 year Severe mental illness requiring urgent psychiatric intervention (e.g., active suicidal ideation) or past-year psychiatric hospitalization) Significant cognitive impairment preventing informed consent determined by study staff or medical record review (e.g., medical history of cognitive impairment) Deemed unable to complete research procedures (e.g., group sessions or surveys) per clinical judgment of study staff Unavailable for intervention sessions (e.g., schedule conflicts)