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Internet-based Exposure-based Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Internet-based Exposure-based Therapy for Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02638636
Enrollment
140
Registered
2015-12-23
Start date
2015-12-31
Completion date
2016-07-31
Last updated
2016-12-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Fibromyalgia

Keywords

Cognitive behavior therapy, Randomized controlled trial, Exposure therapy, Fibromyalgia

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to examine if an internet-based exposure therapy is effective in reducing Fibromyalgia symptoms and impact amongst patients with Fibromyalgia.

Detailed description

Trial Objectives: Primary objective is to investigate whether an Internet-based exposure therapy can effectively reduce the degree of Fibromyalgia symptoms and impact. Secondary objectives are to 1) investigate the treatment's ability to reduce degree of a) quality of life b) function c) insomnia and fatigue d) pain-related fear and negative thoughts e) depression and anxiety, cost-effectiveness of this treatment; and 2) to study if any variables could moderate/mediate the treatment outcome, such as a) degree of covert avoidance, b) degree of reactivity to inner sensations Trial Design: Randomized controlled trial with waitlist control, who also will receive treatment after the first group has finished. Duration: Ten weeks Primary Endpoint: Change in Fibromyalgia symptoms and impact from baseline to Week 10. Long term follow-up is also investigated (potential changes from post-treatment to 6- and 12 months after treatment completion) Efficacy Parameters: the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) Description of Trial Subjects: Patients \> 18 years old, Fibromyalgia diagnosis, residing in Sweden. Number of Subjects: 140 Sample size estimation: Sample size is based on a estimated effect size (measured by Cohen's d) of 0.5, based on a power of 0.8 and with room for a 10 % dropout rate. Recruitment: Self-referral. Advertising will be made through national newspaper, social media and on patient organisations' websites. Safety parameters: Participants will have the opportunity to report any adverse events during treatment at posttreatment and follow-up measurements. Data collection: Data will be collected electronically via the treatment platform. Plan for missing data: Last-observation carried forward (LOCF). Main statistical analysis: Hierarchical linear mixed modelling.

Interventions

The treatment is a 10 week long cognitive behavior therapy. It is based mainly on the principles of exposure; i.e. the participant is instructed to approach situations they have avoided in order to reduce or avoid pain or other aversive experiences until they feel less discomfort and extended behavior repertoire in presence of pain and aversive inner experiences Other interventions include psychoeducation, mindfulness and acceptance strategies and are employed in order to facilitate exposure.

Sponsors

Karolinska Institutet
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Fibromyalgia diagnosis * Swedish resident * Internet connection before, under and after treatment * Willing to refrain from other concurrent psychological treatment during the study * Agreement to keep psychotrophic medication constant during the study

Exclusion criteria

* Severe depression (≥30 points on Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale - Self Rated (MADRS-S) or risk of suicide (≥4 points on the suicide item on MADRS-S) * Ongoing alcohol or substance abuse * Psychosis * Other severe illness that require immediate treatment and/or was considered the participants primary concern other than FM, or bodily condition that makes treatment unfeasible (such as late pregnancy; \>29 weeks gestation * Illiteracy or poor skills in Swedish language * Insufficient computer or language skills to manage a text-based treatment. * Other concurrent psychological treatment * Recent changes in psychotrophic medication (\<6 weeks prior to randomization)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)Week 0, week 10, Long term follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has ended]Change in Fibromyalgia symptoms and impact from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in sleep disturbances from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in fatigue from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in level of function from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Brunnsviken Brief Quality of Life Inventory (BBQ)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in quality of life from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
The Psychological Inflexibility in Pain Scale (PIPS)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in covert avoidance from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in level of depression from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in level of anxiety from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Subscale reactivity to inner experiences from Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in reactivity to inner experiences from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Trimbos and Institute of Medical Technology Assessment Cost Questionnaire for Psychiatry (TIC-P)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in health-care costs and sick-leave from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
EQ5DWeek 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in health-related quality of life from baseline to week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.
Pain Reactivity Scale (PRS)Week 0, week 10, follow-up at 6- and 12-months after treatment has endedChange in pain-related fear and negative thoughts from baseline to Week 10, and at 6- and 12 months after treatment has ended.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Item 9 from Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS-S)Week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5, week 6, week, 7, week 8, week 9Possible presence of suicidal thoughts or ideation during treatment

Countries

Sweden

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026