TY - JOUR
T1 - A tailored-guided internet-based cognitive-behavioral intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis as an adjunct to standard rheumatological care
T2 - results of a randomized controlled trial
AU - Ferwerda, Maaike
AU - van Beugen, Sylvia
AU - van Middendorp, Henriët
AU - Spillekom-van Koulil, Saskia
AU - Donders, A. Rogier T.
AU - Visser, Henk
AU - Taal, Erik
AU - Creemers, Marjonne C.W.
AU - van Riel, Piet L.C.M.
AU - Evers, Andrea W.M.
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - For patients with chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who experience elevated levels of distress, tailored-guided internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment may be effective in improving psychological and physical functioning, and reducing the impact of RA on daily life. A multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted for RA patients with elevated levels of distress as assessed by a disease-specific measure. The control group (n = 71) received standard care and the intervention group (n = 62) additionally received an internet-based tailored cognitive-behavioral intervention. Main analyses were performed using a linear mixed model estimating differences between the intervention and control groups in scores of psychological functioning, physical functioning, and impact of RA on daily life at preassesment and postassessment, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Patients who received the internet-based intervention reported a larger improvement in psychological functioning compared with the control group, indicating less depressed mood (P < 0.001, d = 0.54), negative mood (P = 0.01, d = 0.38), and anxiety (P < 0.001, d = 0.48) during the course of the 1-year follow-up period. Regarding physical functioning, a trend was found for the intervention group reporting less fatigue than the control group (P = 0.06, d = 0.24), whereas no effect was found on pain. No effects were found for the impact of RA on daily life, except for the intervention group experiencing fewer role limitations due to emotional problems (P < 0.001, d = 0.53). Offering guided internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy is a promising development to aid patients with psychological distress particularly in improving psychological functioning. Further research on adherence and specific intervention ingredients is warranted.
AB - For patients with chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), who experience elevated levels of distress, tailored-guided internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment may be effective in improving psychological and physical functioning, and reducing the impact of RA on daily life. A multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted for RA patients with elevated levels of distress as assessed by a disease-specific measure. The control group (n = 71) received standard care and the intervention group (n = 62) additionally received an internet-based tailored cognitive-behavioral intervention. Main analyses were performed using a linear mixed model estimating differences between the intervention and control groups in scores of psychological functioning, physical functioning, and impact of RA on daily life at preassesment and postassessment, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Patients who received the internet-based intervention reported a larger improvement in psychological functioning compared with the control group, indicating less depressed mood (P < 0.001, d = 0.54), negative mood (P = 0.01, d = 0.38), and anxiety (P < 0.001, d = 0.48) during the course of the 1-year follow-up period. Regarding physical functioning, a trend was found for the intervention group reporting less fatigue than the control group (P = 0.06, d = 0.24), whereas no effect was found on pain. No effects were found for the impact of RA on daily life, except for the intervention group experiencing fewer role limitations due to emotional problems (P < 0.001, d = 0.53). Offering guided internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy is a promising development to aid patients with psychological distress particularly in improving psychological functioning. Further research on adherence and specific intervention ingredients is warranted.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85021308990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000845
DO - 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000845
M3 - Article
C2 - 28106666
AN - SCOPUS:85021308990
VL - 158
SP - 868
EP - 878
JO - Pain
JF - Pain
SN - 0304-3959
IS - 5
ER -