This study aims to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral coping skills program, Treatment and Education Approach for Childhood-onset Lupus (TEACH), for youth with cSLE when integrated into medical care. This TEACH program aims to teach participants skills in order to cope with fatigue, pain, and depressive symptoms--symptoms that commonly affect adolescents and young adults with lupus.
Background/Rationale: Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a chronic, multisystem, autoimmune disease that disproportionately impacts females of color. It is associated with a more severe disease presentation, and a 20-fold increased risk of mortality compared to adult-onset SLE. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, and pain are among the most common presenting complaints which impact health-related quality of life (QOL) in individuals with cSLE. These symptoms are potentially modifiable with behavioral intervention. Our team has created an evidence-based, brief and tailored 6-session program, Treatment and Education Approach for Childhood-onset lupus \[TEACH\], which can be delivered in person or remotely using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies to address mental health symptoms, fatigue, and pain. Our nearly completed multi-site RCT, comparing TEACH (delivered by research interventionists) to standard medical care, shows efficacy for psychological/functional outcomes and benefit for disease-related outcomes. Although TEACH is extremely promising, patients do not currently have access to this program as part of their rheumatology care. cSLE patients would likely benefit from TEACH integrated into their medical care, leveraging existing relationships with their providers. As rheumatology teams are often identified as primary providers by cSLE patients, they have a key role in facilitating mental health intervention to enhance patient QOL. They are therefore well-positioned for training in the management of these common, debilitating, yet modifiable symptoms. Objective: The objective is to determine the effectiveness of a coping skills program, TEACH, designed to improve psychological/functional- and disease- related outcomes in youth with cSLE. We will also investigate longitudinal trajectories of depressive symptoms in recipients and explore implementation outcomes. Specific Aims \& Hypotheses: Aim 1: To examine the effect of TEACH on psychological/ functional outcomes and disease-related outcomes in youth with cSLE in real-world rheumatology settings versus medical TAU at post assessment (after 8 weeks). We hypothesize that both psychological/functional outcomes (depressive symptoms \[primary\], fatigue \[secondary\], anxiety, pain, cognitive function) and disease-related outcomes (health-related QOL, medication adherence, disease activity/flares) will significantly improve for the TEACH group vs medical TAU. Aim 2: To determine longitudinal trajectories (over 1 year) of depressive symptoms, the impact of TEACH, and its association with patient characteristics, psychological/functional outcomes, and disease-related outcomes. We hypothesize that: i) distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms \[low stable, improving, worsening\] will emerge through growth mixture modeling, ii) TEACH vs TAU will be associated with decreased depressive symptoms and improved functioning over time, and iii) worsening depressive symptoms will be associated with poorer psychological/functional outcomes \& disease-related outcomes. Aim 3: To evaluate TEACH implementation outcomes using a mixed method approach. We will identify implementation outcomes (e.g., barriers and facilitators, acceptability, fidelity, reach, sustainability) of TEACH through surveys and interviews of providers and patients to inform future adoption/sustainability. We hypothesize results will demonstrate TEACH implementation success (e.g., high acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, knowledge of intervention), and metrics of sustainability will be positive. Research Strategy: We propose a multi-site stepped wedge trial utilizing an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design (type 1) to study the clinical effectiveness and implementation of TEACH administered by integrated trained mental health champions. Seven participating sites across the US and Canada will train integrated mental health champions on the rheumatology team to deliver an empirically supported coping skills program, TEACH, to youth with cSLE. Our multidisciplinary research team consists of rheumatologists, behavioral scientists, and consumer advocates representing several national lupus organizations. Impact: Integrated mental health champions will provide evidence-based strategies to improve psychologicaland disease-related outcomes in youth with cSLE. Our vision is to transform care and improve patient QOL.
TEACH is a cognitive behavioral coping skills program. It consists of six one-hour weekly sessions that are conducted either in-person or remotely.
University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
RECRUITINGChildren's Hospital of New Orleans/ Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
RECRUITINGHelen Devos Children's Hospital
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
Depressive symptoms, as measured by the Children's Depression Inventory-2 (CDI-2) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) (primary)
The CDI-2 measures depressive symptoms on a scale of 0-54, with 0 indicating low levels of depressive symptoms, and 54 indicating high levels of depressive symptoms. The BDI-II measures depressive symptoms on a scale of 0 to 63, with 0 indicating low levels of depressive symptoms and 63 indicating high levels of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Depressive symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) (primary)
The PHQ-9 measures depressive symptoms on a scale of 1-27, with 1 indicating low levels of depressive symptoms, and 27 indicating high levels of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Fatigue, as measured by the PROMIS Fatigue short form (secondary)
The adult PROMIS Fatigue SF measures fatigue one a scale of 10-40; 10 indicating no fatigue, 40 indicating high levels of fatigue. The pediatric PROMIS Fatigue SF measures on a scale of 0-40; 0 indicating no fatigue and 40 indicating high levels of fatigue.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Pain, as measured by the Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
The Pain VAS measures three items on a scale of 0-10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst possible pain.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Pain, as measured by PROMIS Pain Interference Short Form
Interference due to pain symptoms over the past week will be collected from youth (0-32, where 0 indicates low levels of pain interference and 32 is the maximum score for pain interference) and adults (8-40, where 8 indicates low levels of pain interference and 40 is the maximum score for pain interference).
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Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
175
Montefiore Medical Center
The Bronx, New York, United States
RECRUITINGCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
RECRUITINGSeattle Children's Hospital
Seattle, Washington, United States
RECRUITINGThe Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
RECRUITINGTime frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Psychological stress, as measured by the PROMIS psychological stress experience measure
PROMIS psychological stress experience measure is validated for pediatrics and adults. Scores range from 0-95 where 0 indicates no psychological stress and 95 is the maximum score for psychological stress.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks)
Cognitive functioning, as measured by the PROMIS Cognitive Function Short Form for Adults and the PROMIS Cognitive Function Short Form for Pediatrics
PROMIS Cognitive Function Adult form scores range from 8-40, where 8 indicates never having cognitive dysfunction, and 40 indicates very often having cognitive dysfunction. PROMIS Cognitive Function Pediatric form scores range from 7-35, where 7 indicates never having cognitive dysfunction, and 35 indicates having cognitive dysfunction all of the time.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Quality of life, as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Generic Core
The PedsQL measures quality of life in several aspects such as health, school, daily activities. Each item is reversed scored and transformed to a linear scale of 0-100, such that 100 indicates a high quality of life and 0 indicates a low quality of life.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Quality of life, as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Rheumatology Core
The PedsQL measures quality of life in several aspects such as pain and hurt, daily activities, treatment, worry, and communication. Each item is reversed scored and transformed to a linear scale of 0-100, such that 100 indicates a high quality of life and 0 indicates a low quality of life.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Medication adherence, as measured by the Medication Adherence Self-Report Inventory (MASRI)
The MASRI measures medication adherence on a scale of 0%-100%, such that lower scores indicate less adherence and higher scores indicate more adherence.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease activity, as measured by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI 2K)
The SLEDAI 2K measures disease activity in SLE, and takes into consideration descriptors of the disease such as arthritis and vasculitis. Higher scores indicate more active disease/flares, and lower scores indicated less disease activity.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease activity, as measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLICC)
The SLICC measures disease activity by assessing descriptors in SLE. Higher scores indicate greater disease activity, lower scores indicate lesser disease activity
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease activity, as measured by the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS)
The LLDAS is a score from 0-5, where 0 indicates higher disease activity state and 5 indicates lower disease activity state. The LLDAS includes 5 components, each receiving either a 1 (true) or a 0 (false): 1. SLEDAI score less than or equal to 4, 2. no new lupus disease activity, 3. a SELENA-SLEDAI less than or equal to 1, 4. a maintained low prednisolone dose, and 5. well tolerated maintenance doses or immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease manifestations
Disease manifestation will be assessed by use of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLICC) criteria checklist.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Anxiety, as measured by the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and Screen for Adult Anxiety Related Disorders (SCAARED)
The SCARED measures anxiety in children on a scale of 0 to 82, such that lower scores indicates low levels of anxiety, and high scores indicated high levels of anxiety. The SCAARED measures anxiety in adults on a scale of 0 to 88 such that lower scores indicated lower levels of anxiety and high scores indicate higher levels of anxiety. Both scales are comprised of sub-scales to measure types of anxiety (such as separation anxiety).
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks)
Depressive symptoms, as measured by the Children's Depression Inventory-2 (CDI-2) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
The CDI-2 measures depressive symptoms on a scale of 0-54, with 0 indicating low levels of depressive symptoms, and 54 indicating high levels of depressive symptoms. The BDI-II measures depressive symptoms on a scale of 0 to 63, with 0 indicating low levels of depressive symptoms and 63 indicating high levels of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Depressive symptoms, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 (PHQ-9) (primary)
The PHQ-9 measures depressive symptoms on a scale of 1-27, with 1 indicating low levels of depressive symptoms, and 27 indicating high levels of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Fatigue, as measured by the PROMIS Fatigue SF
The adult PROMIS Fatigue SF measures fatigue one a scale of 10-40; 10 indicating no fatigue, 40 indicating high levels of fatigue. The pediatric PROMIS Fatigue SF measures on a scale of 0-40; 0 indicating no fatigue and 40 indicating high levels of fatigue.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Pain, as measured by the Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
The Pain VAS measures three items on a scale of 0-10, with 0 indicating no pain and 10 indicating the worst possible pain.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Pain, as measured by PROMIS Pain Interference Short Form
Interference due to pain symptoms over the past week will be collected from youth (0-32, where 0 indicates low levels of pain interference and 32 is the maximum score for pain interference) and adults (8-40, where 8 indicates low levels of pain interference and 40 is the maximum score for pain interference).
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Psychological stress, as measured by the PROMIS psychological stress experience measure
PROMIS psychological stress experience measure is validated for pediatrics and adults. Scores range from 0-95 where 0 indicates no psychological stress and 95 is the maximum score for psychological stress.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Cognitive functioning, as measured by the PROMIS Cognitive Function Short Form for Adults and the PROMIS Cognitive Function Short Form for Pediatrics
PROMIS Cognitive Function Adult form scores range from 8-40, where 8 indicates never having cognitive dysfunction, and 40 indicates very often having cognitive dysfunction. PROMIS Cognitive Function Pediatric form scores range from 7-35, where 7 indicates never having cognitive dysfunction, and 35 indicates having cognitive dysfunction all of the time.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Quality of life, as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Generic Core
The PedsQL measures quality of life in several aspects such as health, school, daily activities. Each item is reversed scored and transformed to a linear scale of 0-100, such that 100 indicates a high quality of life and 0 indicates a low quality of life.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Quality of life, as measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL) Rheumatology Core
The PedsQL measures quality of life in several aspects such as pain and hurt, daily activities, treatment, worry, and communication. Each item is reversed scored and transformed to a linear scale of 0-100, such that 100 indicates a high quality of life and 0 indicates a low quality of life.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Medication adherence, as measured by the Medication Adherence Self-Report Inventory (MASRI)
The MASRI measures medication adherence on a scale of 0%-100%, such that lower scores indicate less adherence and higher scores indicate more adherence.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease activity, as measured by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI 2K)
The SLEDAI 2K measures disease activity in SLE, and takes into consideration descriptors of the disease such as arthritis and vasculitis. Higher scores indicate more active disease/flares, and lower scores indicated less disease activity.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease activity, as measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLICC)
The SLICC measures disease activity by assessing descriptors in SLE. Higher scores indicate greater disease activity, lower scores indicate lesser disease activity
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease activity, as measured by the Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS)
The LLDAS is a score from 0-5, where 0 indicates higher disease activity state and 5 indicates lower disease activity state. The LLDAS includes 5 components, each receiving either a 1 (true) or a 0 (false): 1. SLEDAI score less than or equal to 4, 2. no new lupus disease activity, 3. a SELENA-SLEDAI less than or equal to 1, 4. a maintained low prednisolone dose, and 5. well tolerated maintenance doses or immunosuppressive drugs and approved biological agents.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Disease manifestations
Disease manifestation will be assessed by use of the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLICC) criteria checklist.
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)
Anxiety, as measured by the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) and Screen for Adult Anxiety Related Disorders (SCAARED)
The SCARED measures anxiety in children on a scale of 0 to 82, such that lower scores indicates low levels of anxiety, and high scores indicated high levels of anxiety. The SCAARED measures anxiety in adults on a scale of 0 to 88 such that lower scores indicated lower levels of anxiety and high scores indicate higher levels of anxiety. Both scales are comprised of sub-scales to measure types of anxiety (such as separation anxiety).
Time frame: T1 (baseline), T2 (8 weeks), T3 (20 weeks), T4 (32 weeks), T5 (44 weeks), T6 (56 weeks)