TREAT-fcd: a self-help program for functional cognitive disorder
Research type
Research Study
Full title
TREAT-fcd: feasibility of a digital self-help cognitive behavioral therapy program for Functional Cognitive Disorder
IRAS ID
331188
Contact name
Veronica Cabreira
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
https://osf.io/u72pv, OSF registration
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Functional cognitive disorders (FCD) are a hidden burden within healthcare expenditure. 25-50% of individuals attending specialized NHS memory clinics have FCD. These cognitive symptoms persist if untreated, with 85% maintaining symptoms at 20 months. FCD can mimic dementia leading to disastrous effects on the individual (everyday tasks, work, relationships), and social and healthcare systems. We aim to conduct feasibility and pilot testing of a self-help program based in Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered via an app to FCD patients.
In our Delphi study, 94% of 45 cognitive experts said they would be willing to prescribe a digital self-help intervention for FCD. CBT has been proven as an effective support to reduce the symptoms and disability of patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, with good patient adherence, satisfaction, and moderate effect sizes.
We have developed the content and platform of the self-help app including CBT principles, psychoeducation and metacognition training aiming at providing information about FCD, framing memory lapses within normal human experience and challenging negative thoughts to modify patient's perception of their memory and maladaptative behaviors. The app includes a self-paced 6 weeks program with 6 core modules (videos, text, patient stories, homework tasks) and two optional modules covering aspects of memory, relationship between symptoms and thoughts/behaviors and emotions and impact of general health and stress on cognition. Patients will sign informed consent and complete questionnaires securely and remotely via REDCap. Minimal level of guidance will be provided by telephone/email by the team.
This study and patients' feedback will gather the necessary data for future improvements prior to a larger randomised efficacy study. We will assess the feasibility, acceptability (satisfaction, credibility, usefulness, attrition) and secondary measures for sample size calculation. Patients will be recruited from memory clinics in two NHS hospitals (NHS Lothian and NHS Fife).REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
23/NS/0102
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion