Technology Assisted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention for Anxiety in People Living With Cognitive Impairment

Launched by THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND · Aug 31, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new therapy program designed to help people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who are also experiencing anxiety. The program uses technology to deliver therapy remotely, making it easier for participants to access support from home. The goal is to see if this innovative approach can effectively reduce anxiety for those living with cognitive challenges.

To be eligible for the study, participants need to be at least 18 years old and have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia. They should also be experiencing anxiety, which can be assessed through simple questionnaires. Participants can expect to engage in therapy sessions using a special software platform, and they'll receive support throughout the process. It's important to note that individuals with severe dementia, certain other mental health conditions, or recent risks of suicide will not be eligible for this study to ensure their safety.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Persons aged 18 years or over
• • Persons with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia of any aetiology based on a previous diagnosis by a clinician or scoring above threshold (≤32; MCI ≤32 and dementia ≤27) for cognitive impairment in the Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Impairment (TICS-M).
• • Screening positive for anxiety (scoring ≥9 on Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, GAI), and/or subjective complaints of anxiety and/ or clinician diagnosis of a current anxiety disorder and screening positive for anxiety using the Rating Anxiety in Dementia scale (scoring ≥11 on RAID)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Persons with severe dementia
• • Persons unable to communicate or complete questionnaires
• • Persons who have a current risk of suicide within the last month as determined by the study clinical expert team.
• • Persons with major depression as the primary complaint without reported symptoms of anxiety
• • Persons with comorbid psychiatric conditions