| 1. |
- Hedman-Lagerlöf, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Approach as a key for success : Reduced avoidance behaviour mediates the effect of exposure therapy for fibromyalgia
- 2019
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In: Behaviour Research and Therapy. - : Elsevier. - 0005-7967 .- 1873-622X. ; 122
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent chronic pain disorder associated with large suffering and substantial societal costs. Pain-related avoidance behaviour and hypervigilance to bodily symptoms are common in FM and contribute in maintaining and exacerbating the disorder. Exposure therapy targeting avoidance behaviours and hypervigilance has shown promise in the treatment of FM. The present study investigated mediators of treatment outcome in exposure therapy for FM. We used data from a randomised trial, where 140 participants were allocated to 10-week Internet-delivered exposure therapy or to a waiting-list control condition. The main outcome variable (FM symptoms) and the hypothesized mediators (FM-related avoidance behaviour, mindful non-reactivity and FM-related worry) were measured weekly throughout treatment. Mediation analyses were conducted using linear mixed effects models with bootstrap replication and time-lagged analysis. Results indicated that all three process variables were significant mediators of FM severity. However, in the time-lagged analyses, only FM-related avoidance behaviour displayed a unidirectional relationship over time with FM symptoms, suggesting a causal effect. Thus, results illustrate that changes in avoidance behaviour mediate the outcome of exposure on FM symptoms, which implies that avoidance behaviour is an important treatment target in exposure therapy.
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| 2. |
- Hedman-Lagerlöf, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Utility of Internet-Delivered Exposure Therapy for Fibromyalgia : Results From a Randomized, Controlled Trial
- 2019
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In: Journal of Pain. - : Elsevier. - 1526-5900 .- 1528-8447. ; 20:1, s. 47-59
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent and debilitating chronic pain disorder associated with a substantial economic burden. Although there are several studies investigating the effectiveness of psychological treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for FM, studies on cost-effectiveness are scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate the cost-effectiveness of Internet-delivered exposure therapy (iExp) for FM. We used health economic data from a recently conducted randomized, controlled trial, where 140 participants were randomized to either iExp or a waitlist control (WLC) condition. Economic data were collected at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at the 1-year follow-up. Treatment effectiveness in relation to costs were analyzed using both a societal perspective (including all direct and indirect costs) and a health care unit perspective (including only the direct treatment costs). Bootstrapped net benefit regression analyses were also conducted, comparing the difference in costs and effects between iExp and WLC, within different willingness-to-pay scenarios. Results showed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was -$15,295, indicating that iExp was highly cost-effective as each successfully treated case (treatment responder) was associated with a substantial net reduction in costs. The robustness of the results was tested in 2 different sensitivity analyses, where iExp remained cost-effective, even in a willingness-to-pay-scenario of $0. We conclude that iExp is a cost-effective treatment that generates large societal cost savings.PERSPECTIVE: Health-economic evaluations of psychological interventions for FM are scarce. This study is a cost-effectiveness analysis of Internet-delivered exposure therapy for patients with FM. Results showed that iExp was highly cost-effective compared with no treatment, where each successfully treated case generated a substantial societal cost saving.
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| 3. |
- Hedman-Lagerlöf, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Internet-Delivered Exposure Therapy for Fibromyalgia : A Randomized Controlled Trial
- 2018
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In: The Clinical Journal of Pain. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0749-8047 .- 1536-5409. ; 34:6, s. 532-542
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common and disabling chronic pain disorder, for which existing pharmacological and psychological treatments have yet yielded insufficient effects. Previous literature has shown that exposure therapy may be an effective treatment for chronic pain. This study constitutes the first randomized controlled trial evaluating exposure therapy for FM.Methods: A total of 140 participants with diagnosed FM were randomized to a 10-week Internet-delivered exposure treatment (iExp; n=70) or a waitlist control condition (WLC; n=70). Primary outcome measure were FM symptoms and impact, and secondary outcome measures were fatigue, disability, quality of life, pain-related distress and avoidance behaviors, insomnia, depression, and anxiety.Results: Data retention was high (100% data completion at posttreatment for primary outcome, 96% at 6-month follow-up and 94% at 12-month follow-up). Results showed that participants in the iExp group made large and superior improvements compared with WLC on FM symptoms and impact (B, ?1.93; z, ?10.14; P<0.001, betweengroup Cohen d=0.90), as well as all secondary outcomes (betweengroup Cohen d ranging from 0.44 to 1.38) with sustained results.Conclusions: We conclude that iExp seems to be an efficacious treatment for FM compared with no treatment, and the results also highlight the potential increase of accessibility by using the Internet format to deliver psychological treatments for these patients. Future trials with active control conditions are warranted.
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| 4. |
- Hedman-Lagerlöf, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Shared and distinct effect mediators in exposure-based and traditional cognitive behavior therapy for fibromyalgia : Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
- 2024
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In: Behaviour Research and Therapy. - : Elsevier. - 0005-7967 .- 1873-622X. ; 178
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition associated with substantial suffering and societal costs. Traditional cognitive behavior therapy (T-CBT) is the most evaluated psychological treatment, but exposure therapy (Exp-CBT) has shown promise with a pronounced focus on the reduction of pain-related avoidance behaviors. In a recent randomized controlled trial (N = 274), we found that Exp-CBT was not superior to T-CBT (d = −0.10) in reducing overall fibromyalgia severity. This study investigated pain-related avoidance behaviors, pain catastrophizing, hypervigilance, pacing, overdoing and physical activity as potential mediators of the treatment effect. Mediation analyses were based on parallel process growth models fitted on 11 weekly measurement points, and week-by-week time-lagged effects were tested using random intercepts cross-lagged panel models. Results indicated that a reduction in avoidance behaviors, pain catastrophizing, and hypervigilance were significant mediators of change in both treatments. An increase in pacing and a reduction in overdoing were significant mediators in T-CBT only. Physical activity was not a mediator. In the time-lagged analyses, an unequivocal effect on subsequent fibromyalgia severity was seen of avoidance and catastrophizing in Exp-CBT, and of overdoing in T-CBT. Exposure-based and traditional CBT for fibromyalgia appear to share common treatment mediators, namely pain-related avoidance behavior, catastrophizing and hypervigilance.
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| 5. |
- Hedman-Lagerlöf, Maria, et al.
(author)
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The empirical support for mindfulness-based interventions for common psychiatric disorders : a systematic review and meta-analysis
- 2018
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In: Psychological Medicine. - 0033-2917 .- 1469-8978. ; 48:13, s. 2116-2129
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have become widely used for common mental disorders (CMDs) but the state of the evidence has not been sufficiently investigated. The aims for this study were: (1) to quantify the effect size of MBIs for CMDs in the acute phase; (2) to explore moderator variables; and (3) to evaluate the evidence status of MBIs for the CMDs it has been tried for. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted. RCTs that evaluated MBI and included patients with a primary manifest CMD was included. Methodological quality, the risk of bias, publication bias and evidence status were assessed. Literature searches gave 2448 hits and 19 studies were included. MBIs were more effective than no treatment (g = 1.07) and treatment-as-usual (g = 0.40) but not in comparison to placebo (g = 0.17) or other active treatments (g = -0.01). Methodological quality was negatively correlated with outcome. For all psychiatric disorders it has been tested, MBIs were judged to have weak or no empirical support. The conclusion of the study is that the evidence-base for MBIs for CMDs in the acute phase is weak.
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| 6. |
- Santoft, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
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Cognitive behaviour therapy for depression in primary care : systematic review and meta-analysis
- 2019
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In: Psychological Medicine. - 0033-2917 .- 1469-8978. ; 49:8, s. 1266-1274
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Depression is common in primary care, and most patients prefer psychological treatment over pharmacotherapy. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment, but there are gaps in current knowledge about CBT in the primary care context, especially with regard to long-term effects and the efficacy of specific delivery formats. This is an obstacle to the integration of primary care and specialist psychiatry. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of CBT for primary care patients with depression to investigate the effect of CBT for patients with depression in primary care. A total of 34 studies, with 2543 patients in CBT and 2815 patients in control conditions, were included. CBT was more effective than the control conditions [g = 0.22 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-0.30)], and the effect was sustained at follow-up [g = 0.17 (95% CI 0.10-0.24)]. CBT also led to a higher response rate [odds ratio (OR) = 2.47 (95% CI 1.60-3.80)] and remission rate [OR = 1.56 (95% CI 1.15-2.14)] than the control conditions. Heterogeneity was moderate. The controlled effect of CBT was significant regardless of whether patients met diagnostic criteria for depression, scored above a validated cut-off for depression, or merely had depressive symptoms. CBT also had a controlled effect regardless of whether the treatment was delivered as individual therapy, group therapy or therapist-guided self-help. We conclude that CBT appears to be effective for patients with depression in primary care, and recommend that patients with mild to moderate depression be offered CBT in primary care.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Evelyn, et al.
(author)
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Genetics of response to cognitive behavior therapy in adults with major depression : a preliminary report
- 2019
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In: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Nature Publishing Group. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 24:4, s. 484-490
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Major depressive disorder is heritable and a leading cause of disability. Cognitive behavior therapy is an effective treatment for major depression. By quantifying genetic risk scores based on common genetic variants, the aim of this report was to explore the utility of psychiatric and cognitive trait genetic risk scores, for predicting the response of 894 adults with major depressive disorder to cognitive behavior therapy. The participants were recruited in a psychiatric setting, and the primary outcome score was measured using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale-Self Rated. Single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping arrays were used to calculate the genomic risk scores based on large genetic studies of six phenotypes: major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intelligence, and educational attainment. Linear mixed-effect models were used to test the relationships between the six genetic risk scores and cognitive behavior therapy outcome. Our analyses yielded one significant interaction effect (B = 0.09, p < 0.001): the autism spectrum disorder genetic risk score correlated with Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale-Self Rated changes during treatment, and the higher the autism spectrum disorder genetic load, the less the depressive symptoms decreased over time. The genetic risk scores for the other psychiatric and cognitive traits were not related to depressive symptom severity or change over time. Our preliminary results indicated, as expected, that the genomics of the response of patients with major depression to cognitive behavior therapy were complex and that future efforts should aim to maximize sample size and limit subject heterogeneity in order to gain a better understanding of the use of genetic risk factors to predict treatment outcome.
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| 8. |
- Axelsson, Erland, et al.
(author)
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Mediators of treatment effect in minimal-contact cognitive behaviour therapy for severe health anxiety : A theory-driven analysis based on a randomised controlled trial
- 2020
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In: Journal of Anxiety Disorders. - : Elsevier. - 0887-6185 .- 1873-7897. ; 69
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cognitive behaviour therapy (CDT) is efficacious for severe health anxiety, but little is known about mechanisms. We analysed putative mediators of change based on 13 weekly assessments in a randomised controlled trial (N = 132) of exposure-based minimal-contact CBT (guided Internet-delivered CBT, unguided Internet-delivered CBT and bibliotherapy) vs. a waitlist control for severe health anxiety. We hypothesised that the effect of CBT on health anxiety would be mediated by non-reactivity to inner experiences, health anxiety behaviours and perceived competence. We also explored somatosensory amplification. In parallel process growth models, nonreactivity, health anxiety behaviours and perceived competence - but not somatosensory amplification - were influenced by CBT and associated with health anxiety. Random intercepts cross-lagged panel models were used to study within-individual ordering of change. None of the putative mediators systematically predicted subsequent changes in health anxiety. Rather, changes in health anxiety predicted subsequent changes in all putative mediators. In summary, CBT influenced health anxiety behaviours, non-reactivity to inner experiences and perceived competence, and these variables were associated with the outcome. However, their role as mediators was not corroborated because we found no evidence that changes in these variables predicted subsequent changes in health anxiety. We encourage further research into mediators of CBT for health anxiety.
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| 9. |
- Axelsson, Erland, et al.
(author)
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Psychological treatments for irritable bowel syndrome : a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis
- 2023
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In: Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. - : Routledge. - 1650-6073 .- 1651-2316. ; 52:6, s. 565-584
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A wide range of psychological treatments have been found to reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but their relative effects are unclear. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we determined the effects of psychological treatments for IBS, including subtypes of cognitive behavior therapy, versus attention controls. We searched 11 databases (March 2022) for studies of psychological treatments for IBS, reported in journal articles, books, dissertations, and conference abstracts. The resulting database comprised 9 outcome domains from 118 studies published in 1983–2022. Using data from 62 studies and 6496 participants, we estimated the effect of treatment type on improvement in composite IBS severity using random-effects meta-regression. In comparison with the attention controls, there was a significant added effect of exposure therapy (g = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.17–0.88) and hypnotherapy (g = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.06–0.67) when controlling for the pre- to post-assessment duration. When additional potential confounders were included, exposure therapy but not hypnotherapy retained a significant added effect. Effects were also larger with a longer duration, individual treatment, questionnaire (non-diary) outcomes, and recruitment outside of routine care. Heterogeneity was substantial. Tentatively, exposure therapy appears to be a particularly promising treatment for IBS. More direct comparisons in randomized controlled trials are needed. OSF.io identifier: 5yh9a.
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| 10. |
- Hedman-Lagerlöf, Erik, et al.
(author)
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The impact of exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy for severe health anxiety on self-rated health : Results from a randomized trial
- 2017
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 103, s. 9-14
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Self-rated health (SRH) has been shown to be a stable predictor of illness and mortality. Improvement in SRH, even in the absence of change in objective health, predicts better health and reduced mortality. Severe health anxiety (SHA) is characterized by fear of illness and distorted health perception. The objective of the present study was to investigate if exposure-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for SHA can lead to improvement in SRH and whether this improvement is mediated by reduced health anxiety. Methods: Data were collected from a randomized controlled trial where participants with SHA were allocated to 12 weeks of exposure-based CBT (n = 99) for SHA or to a no treatment control condition (n = 33). The mediation analysis was based on SRH- and health anxiety data collected weekly during the treatment phase. Results: Linear mixed effects models analysis showed a significant interaction effect of group and time indicating superior improvements in SRH in exposure-based CBT compared to the control condition (Z = 2.69, p = 0.007). The controlled effect size was moderately large (d = 0.64) and improvements were stable at 1-year follow-up. Reduced health anxiety was a significant mediator of improvement in SRH. Conclusions: 12 weeks of exposure-based CBT for SHA can lead to significant improvements in SRH. Considering the previously established importance of SRH as a predictor for disease and mortality, exposure-based CBT for severe health anxiety may lead to improvements on several important health parameters, possibly even increasing the likelihood of longevity.
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