Terje Thesen

• Thesen, Terje; Himle, Joseph A.; Pripp, Are Hugo; Sunde, Tor; Walseth, Liv Tveit & Thorup, Frode [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Patients with depression symptoms are more likely to experience improvements of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy: a secondary analysis of effect modifiers in patients with non-cardiac chest pain in a randomized controlled trial. BMC Psychiatry. 23(1), p. 1–13. doi: 10.1186/s12888-023-05238-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Non-cardiac chest pain is common and associated with increased anxiety and reduced health-related quality of life. Randomized controlled trials on psychological interventions for patients with non-cardiac chest pain have reported mixed results. Patients with non-cardiac chest pain are a heterogeneous group. Identifying sub-groups that could potentially benefit more (or less) from an intervention would be valuable knowledge. We have conducted a randomized controlled trial where internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy (iCBT) had effect on reducing cardiac anxiety and increasing health-related quality of life at 12-month follow-up. The aim of the present study was to explore potential effect modifiers of iCBT in patients with non-cardiac chest pain on cardiac anxiety and/or health related quality of life at 12-month follow-up. Methods We analysed data from our randomized, controlled trial where 161 patients with non-cardiac chest pain were included and randomized to either iCBT or a treatment as usual (control). Cardiac anxiety measured by the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire and health-related quality of life measured by the EuroQol Visual Analog Scale at 12 month follow-up were the primary outcomes. Four potential baseline characteristics where identified as potential effect modifiers by a theory-based approach: (1) depression measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire; (2) anxiety measured by the Body Sensations Questionnaire; (3) prior healthcare contacts measured by a self-developed question; and (4) chest pain frequency measured by a self-developed question. Each potential effect modifier was analysed in a linear regression model where cardiac anxiety and EQ-VAS scores at 12-month follow-up, separately, were used as dependent variables. The potential differential treatment effect for each effect modifier was assessed by the interaction term: effect modifier x treatment group. Results Depression symptoms at baseline predicted a differential treatment effect at 12-month follow-up on health-related quality of life in favor of the iCBT group (regression coefficient of the interaction term: -1.85 (CI -3.28 to -0.41), p = 0.01), but not on cardiac anxiety at 12-month follow-up. Fear of bodily symptoms, chest pain frequency and prior health care contacts at baseline did not predict a treatment effect on either health-related quality of life or cardiac anxiety. Conclusions Depression symptoms at baseline predicted a positive treatment effect of iCBT on health-related quality of life in patients suffering from non-cardiac chest pain. This indicates that it is important to identify patients with non-cardiac chest pain and co-occurring depression symptoms given that they are particularly likely to benefit from iCBT.

• Thesen, Terje; Himle, Joseph A.; Martinsen, Egil Wilhelm; Walseth, Liv Tveit; Thorup, Frode & Gallefoss, Frode [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Telephone Support for Noncardiac Chest Pain: Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR). ISSN 1439-4456. 24(1), p. 1–15. doi: 10.2196/33631. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Noncardiac chest pain has a high prevalence and is associated with reduced quality of life, anxiety, avoidance of physical activity, and high societal costs. There is a lack of an effective, low-cost, easy to distribute intervention to assist patients with noncardiac chest pain. Objective:In this study, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy with telephone support for noncardiac chest pain. Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial, with a 12-month follow-up period, to compare internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy to a control condition (treatment as usual). A total of 162 participants aged 18 to 70 years with a diagnosis of noncardiac chest pain were randomized to either internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (n=81) or treatment as usual (n=81). The participants in the experimental condition received 6 weekly sessions of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy. The sessions covered different topics related to coping with noncardiac chest pain (education about the heart, physical activity, interpretations/attention, physical reactions to stress, optional panic treatment, and maintaining change). Between sessions, the participants also engaged in individually tailored physical exercises with increasing intensity. In addition to internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, participants received a brief weekly call from a clinician to provide support, encourage adherence, and provide access to the next session. Participants in the treatment-as-usual group received standard care for their noncardiac chest pain without any restrictions. Primary outcomes were cardiac anxiety, measured with the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire, and fear of bodily sensations, measured with the Body Sensations Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were depression, measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire; health-related quality of life, measured using the EuroQol visual analog scale; and level of physical activity, assessed with self-report question. Additionally, a subgroup analysis of participants with depressive symptoms at baseline (PHQ-9 score ≥5) was conducted. Assessments were conducted at baseline, posttreatment, and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate treatment effects. Cohen d was used to calculate effect sizes. Results: In the main intention-to-treat analysis at the 12-month follow-up time point, participants in the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group had significant improvements in cardiac anxiety (–3.4 points, 95% CI –5.7 to –1.1; P=.004, d=0.38) and a nonsignificant improvement in fear of bodily sensations (–2.7 points, 95% CI –5.6 to 0.3; P=.07) compared with the treatment-as-usual group. Health-related quality of life at the 12-month follow-up improved with statistical and clinical significance in the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group (8.8 points, 95% CI 2.8 to 14.8; P=.004, d=0.48) compared with the treatment-as-usual group. Physical activity had significantly (P<.001) increased during the 6-week intervention period for the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group. Depression significantly improved posttreatment (P=.003) and at the 3-month follow-up (P=.03), but not at the 12-month follow-up (P=.35). Participants with depressive symptoms at baseline seemed to have increased effect of the intervention on cardiac anxiety (d=0.55) and health-related quality of life (d=0.71) at the 12-month follow-up. In the internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy group, 84% of the participants (68/81) completed at least 5 of the 6 sessions. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy with minimal therapist contact and a focus on physical activity is effective in reducing cardiac anxiety and increasing health related quality of life in patients with noncardiac chest pain.

• Eldøen, Guttorm; Kvalheim, Stine Ellingsen; Thesen, Terje; Mygland, Åse; Ljøstad, Unn & Bakke, Siri Hanne [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Web-based vestibular rehabilitation in persistent postural-perceptual dizziness. Brain and Behavior. 11(10), p. 1–6. doi: 10.1002/brb3.2346. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives The aims of the study were to investigate the feasibility and preliminary outcome of a Norwegian web-based self-help application for vestibular rehabilitation (VR) among patients with high symptom burden of chronic dizziness fulfilling the criteria for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD). Materials and methods The web application consists of six weekly online sessions, with written information and video presentations. It is self-instructive and freely available on NHI.no (https://nhi.no/for-helsepersonell/vestibular-rehabilitering/). Ten consecutive patients referred to a neurologic outpatient clinic for chronic dizziness were included. They signed informed consent forms and were examined at inclusion and after three months. State of health and symptom burden were recorded using Vertigo symptom score (VSS), Niigata symptom score (NPQ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and health-related quality of life score (EQ5D-5L). Experiences with the program were measured using a semi-structured interview at the end of the study. Results Nine out of ten patients completed the program. The findings suggest that the web application was easy to use, instructive and educatable. Challenges were the load of exercises, motivation to continue training during relapses and performing the body rolling on the floor. Participants had high symptom burden (VSS mean 32.9) and long duration of symptoms in years (mean 11.5). The participants improved on average 6.9 points on the VSS score. Conclusions This web application for chronic dizziness appears to be feasible and may reduce symptoms in patients who have struggled with serious and long-lasting dizziness.

• Thesen, Terje; Jonsbu, Egil; Martinsen, Egil Wilhelm; Himle, Joseph A.; Thorup, Frode & Launes, Gunvor [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2021). Internet-assisted cognitive behavioural therapy for non-cardiac chest pain: a pilot and feasibility study. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. 14(e19), p. 1–18. doi: 10.1017/S1754470X21000155. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Nearly half of patients with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP) experience significant complaints after a negative cardiac evaluation, at considerable costs for society. Due to the lack of treatment capacity and low interest for psychological treatment among patients with somatic complaints, only a minority receive effective treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and usefulness of internet-assisted cognitive behavioural therapy (I-CBT), including encouragement of physical activity for this condition. Ten patients with NCCP received a six-session I-CBT intervention with minimal support from a therapist. Questionnaires assessing cardiac anxiety, fear of bodily sensations, depression, interpretation of symptoms, frequency of chest pain and impact of chest pain symptoms were collected at baseline, post-treatment and at 3-month follow-up. Semi-structured interviews employing a phenomenological hermeneutic approach assessed the participants’ experience of the intervention. Quantitative results showed clear improvements in several measures both at end of treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The retention rate was 100% and client satisfaction was high. The intervention was feasible to implement in a cardiac setting. This setting made it easier for patients to accept a psychological approach. Qualitative interviews revealed that the participants felt respected and taken care of, and they obtained a better understanding of their chest pain and how to cope with it. This pilot study yielded promising results regarding feasibility, clinical effect and patient satisfaction from a brief I-CBT intervention for NCCP in a cardiac setting. These results indicate that a randomized controlled trial with a larger sample size is warranted.

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