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Problem-Solving Therapy for Patients With Chronic Disease and Poor Mental Well-being in General Practice

Problem-Solving Therapy for Patients With Chronic Disease and Poor Mental Well-being in General Practice

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05611112
Enrollment
147
Registered
2022-11-09
Start date
2022-11-01
Completion date
2025-03-01
Last updated
2026-05-07

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

Conditions

Diabetes Type 2, Ischemic Heart Disease, Mental Health Impairment

Brief summary

In Denmark the vast majority of patients with chronic ischemic heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes are managed in general practice. 20% of the patients suffer from poor mental health. Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a psychotherapeutic method that is proven effective in adults with poor mental health. PST can be provided in general practice. The main objective of this study is to test effectiveness of providing PST to this group patients.

Detailed description

20% of patients with type 2 diabetes and/or chronic ischemic heart disease have poor mental health. Since these patients are managed in general practice interventions targeting poor mental health in these patients should be delivered in here. Problem-solving therapy (PST) is a well-established psychotherapeutic method that can be delivered by health care providers in general practice. The main objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of delivering PST for patients with T2D and/or IHS who suffer from poor mental health. We hypothesize that the patients' mental health will be improved after treatment with PST. Health care providers from 12 general practices are trained in PST and subsequently provide PST for patients with T2D and/or IHS and poor mental health. Patients are recruited at the annual control visit for the chronic disease. All patients are screened for impaired mental health with the WHO-5 questionnaire. Patients with a score below 50 are offered PST. The study is conducted as a stepped wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial with a one-year follow-up. In this design clusters are stepped wise exposed to the intervention. Initially all general practices are in the control group. After four months half of the recruited GPs attend the PST training programme and switch to performing the intervention. After an additional four months the remaining GPs are educated in PST and all GPs now perform the intervention. Both general practitioners and practise nurses will perform PST consultations. The power calculation is based on: * The primary outcome (PHQ-9 score at 6 and 12 months. The minimal clinical effect is 5 points) * ICC is estimated to 0,05. Based on these assumptions we will include 188 patients with IHS or/and T2D (we expect 25% overlap) to obtain a power of 90%.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALProblem Solving Therapy

Problem Solving Therapy is a well-established evidence-based therapy form that is highly effective in patients with mental health issues. Initially, the patient makes a problem list and for each problem, possible solutions will be outlined. Considering pros and cons for each solution, the patient is asked to choose the one considered most appropriate. The patient is encouraged to put this solution into action and a follow-up consultation is planned.

Sponsors

University of Aarhus
Lead SponsorOTHER
Research Unit for General Practice, Aarhus University
CollaboratorOTHER
Danish Heart Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
TrygFonden, Denmark
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Central Denmark Region
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Stepped wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial with a one-year follow-up.

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* +18 years * Diagnosed with ischemic heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes * Poor mental health defined as WHO-5 well-being index \<50 points

Exclusion criteria

* severe mental illness including psychotic disease and suicidal behaviour * unable to read and understand Danish

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mental health - Depression12 monthsPatient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at 12 months of follow-up

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mental health - Anxiety12 monthsGeneral Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) 12 months of follow-up
Diabetes related stress12 monthsProblem Areas in Diabetes-5 (PAID-5) at 12 months of follow-up
Mental health - Depression6 monthsPatient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at 6 months of follow-up
Prescriptions of psychopharmacological medications12 monthsPrescriptions of psychopharmacological medications during one year after start of patient-inclusion. Register-based.
Medication adherenceBaseline and 12 monthsChanges in medication adherence to antidiabetic drugs and statins
Lipid profileBaseline and 12 monthsChanges in lipid profile (from blod samples)
Blood pressureBaseline and 12 monthsChanges in blod pressure
Smoking statusBaseline and 12 monthsChanges in smoking status
Use of health care servicesBaseline and 12 monthsChanges in use of health care services including any contacts to general practice, out-of-hours medical service, cardiovascular readmissions and all cause hospitalizations
Health literacyBaselineData on health literacy will be collected at baseline using the HLSAC instrument (Health Literacy for School-Aged Children), which allows the calculation of a health literacy summary score used to examine health literacy levels. HLSAC is currently being validated among adults. The summary score is between 10-40 points: 10-25 points indicates low health literacy, 26-35 points indicates moderate health literacy, 26-40 points indicates high health literacy.

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 15, 2026