March 2, 2021JMIR CardioOpen Access

Internet-Delivered Exposure-Based Therapy for Symptom Preoccupation in Atrial Fibrillation: Uncontrolled Pilot Trial

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Why the study?

Current medical treatments are often inadequate for symptom preoccupation in AF, and internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy had never been evaluated in patients with AF.

Does internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy improve AF-specific quality of life and reduce symptom preoccupation in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?

Population

19 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF

Comparison

10-week AF-specific internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy

Design

Uncontrolled pilot study

Follow-up

6-month follow-up

Authors

JSJosefin SärnholmColumbia University Irving Medical Center HSHelga SkúladóttirKarolinska University Hospital CRChristian RückLinköping University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Should not yet change practice; leaves open confirmatory RCTs of internet CBT for AF symptom preoccupation.

Structured PICO

Does internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy improve AF-specific quality of life and reduce symptom preoccupation in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?

Population

19 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (≥1 AF episode per month, EHRA class ≥IIb) receiving optimal medical care, mean age 60.9 years, 63% women, based in Sweden. Key exclusions: heart failure with severe systolic dysfunction (LVEF ≤35%), significant valvular disease, and planned ablation.

Intervention

AF-specific internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) targeting symptom preoccupation. The therapist-guided treatment lasted 10 weeks (30-60 minutes per day) and included education, interoceptive exposure to physical sensations, in vivo exposure to avoided situations, behavioral activation, and relapse prevention.

Outcome

AF-specific Quality of Life measured by the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life (AFEQT) total score at posttreatment (10 weeks) and 6-month follow-up.patient reported

Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy is a feasible and potentially effective intervention for improving quality of life and reducing symptom preoccupation in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Limitations

Small sample size due to slow recruitment
Uncontrolled design (no comparator group)

Cite This Study

Särnholm et al. (2021) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a7f6de6eda4f737d2c0e8bf https://doi.org/10.2196/24524

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Internet-Delivered Exposure-Based Therapy for Symptom Preoccupation in Atrial Fibrillation: Uncontrolled Pilot Trial

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Internet-Delivered Exposure-Based Therapy for Symptom Preoccupation in Atrial Fibrillation: Uncontrolled Pilot Trial

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider