This is a single-blind, placebo-controlled, telemedicine clinical trial to assess the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in adult patients 18 years and older with familial dysautonomia (FD) and anxiety and/or depression and/or obsessive compulsive or related disorders. The trial will enroll 20 adult patients each with FD who have anxiety and/or depression and/or obsessive compulsive or related disorders by the DSM V criteria. Enrolled participants will be allocated to receive, in a non-randomized fashion, weekly 5-10 min talking sessions (i.e., placebo) for 8 weeks, followed by weekly 30-60 min CBT sessions during 8 weeks. Although investigators will be un-blinded to the intervention, participants will be blinded to the expected effects of each intervention. Both the talking sessions (i.e., placebo) and CBT sessions will be performed via telemedicine either via a HIPAA secure telemedicine platform or the telephone based on the preference of the individual patient. If a patient specifically requests talking or CBT sessions to be performed in person, this will be accommodated. The use of telemedicine is to accommodate disability and potential physical limitations of this unique patient population. The CBT sessions will be supervised by Lily Armstrong, certified mental health therapist and Dr. Thomas Boes, NYU Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Psychiatric and Neurology.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
weekly 20-40 min CBT sessions during 8 weeks; Both the talking sessions (i.e., placebo) and CBT sessions will be performed via telemedicine either via a HIPAA secure telemedicine platform or the telephone based on the preference of the individual patient.
20-40 min talking sessions (i.e., placebo) for 8 weeks; The placebo talking sessions will be performed by an acute care and palliative care board certified, New York State licensed nurse practitioner at the NYU Dysautonomia Center who is familiar with each FD subject enrolling in the study and an expert in familial dysautonomia. The NP will focus the 20-40 minute conversation on typical medical questions and concerns that the FD patient routinely calls the Center to discuss.
NYU Langone Health
New York, New York, United States
STAI anxiety score
The range of possible scores for form Y of the STAI varies from a minimum score of 20 to a maximum score of 80 on both the STAI-T and STAI-S subscales. STAI scores are commonly classified as "no or low anxiety" (20-37), "moderate anxiety" (38-44), and "high anxiety" (45-80).
Time frame: Baseline
STAI anxiety score
The range of possible scores for form Y of the STAI varies from a minimum score of 20 to a maximum score of 80 on both the STAI-T and STAI-S subscales. STAI scores are commonly classified as "no or low anxiety" (20-37), "moderate anxiety" (38-44), and "high anxiety" (45-80).
Time frame: Week 2
STAI anxiety score
The range of possible scores for form Y of the STAI varies from a minimum score of 20 to a maximum score of 80 on both the STAI-T and STAI-S subscales. STAI scores are commonly classified as "no or low anxiety" (20-37), "moderate anxiety" (38-44), and "high anxiety" (45-80).
Time frame: Week 9
STAI anxiety score
The range of possible scores for form Y of the STAI varies from a minimum score of 20 to a maximum score of 80 on both the STAI-T and STAI-S subscales. STAI scores are commonly classified as "no or low anxiety" (20-37), "moderate anxiety" (38-44), and "high anxiety" (45-80).
Time frame: Week 17
PHQ-9 depression score
9 item depression scale of the patient health questionnaire.The total sum of the responses suggests varying levels of depression. Scores range from 0 to 27. In general, a total of 10 or above is suggestive of the presence of depression.
Time frame: Baseline
PHQ-9 depression score
9 item depression scale of the patient health questionnaire.The total sum of the responses suggests varying levels of depression. Scores range from 0 to 27. In general, a total of 10 or above is suggestive of the presence of depression.
Time frame: Week 2
PHQ-9 depression score
9 item depression scale of the patient health questionnaire.The total sum of the responses suggests varying levels of depression. Scores range from 0 to 27. In general, a total of 10 or above is suggestive of the presence of depression.
Time frame: Week 9
PHQ-9 depression score
9 item depression scale of the patient health questionnaire.The total sum of the responses suggests varying levels of depression. Scores range from 0 to 27. In general, a total of 10 or above is suggestive of the presence of depression.
Time frame: Week 17
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