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NCT Number: NCT07634419

Self-directed Mobile Mindfulness to Address ICU Survivors' Psychological Distress

Serious acute heart and lung illnesses like heart failure, severe COVID, and sepsis often leave survivors struggling not only physically, but also with lasting depression, anxiety, and stress. These problems that are hard to treat because access to mental health care is often limited. To help address this, the researchers created Lift, a fully automated mindfulness program designed with patient input and delivered through a mobile app. The investigators now plan a large, multi-site study to test whether Lift improves mental health and quality of life over six months compared to a critical illness education program called Enlighten Recovery. Overall the goal is to make an easy-to-use, widely accessible program available to people across the U.S., including those who speak Spanish.

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Key information

Conditions

Critical Illness ARDS Accidental Injuries Acute Lung Injury Cardiovascular Diseases Disease Attributes Heart Diseases Heart Failure Infections Inflammation Lung Diseases Lung Injury Pathologic Processes Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pneumonia Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Sepsis Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Trauma Injury Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, United States

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About this study

Cardiorespiratory conditions such as the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), congestive heart failure, COVID pneumonia, and sepsis are among the most common causes of mortality and morbidity. They are also notable for high rates of persistent psychological distress symptoms including depression, anxiety, and PTSD that worsen quality of life and outcomes of the underlying conditions. Yet there are few effective strategies able to overcome barriers of limited access to mental health care.

To address this gap, the researchers developed Lift, a completely automated and self-directed mindfulness training intervention, from the ground up with patient input. First, Lift reduced depression symptoms and improved quality of life compared to an education program control in a multicenter pilot RCT (R34 AT008819) among those recently hospitalized with serious cardiorespiratory conditions. Next, a 247-person multicenter 2x2x2 factorial optimization trial (U01 AT00974) compared 8 intervention versions differing by program introduction (app vs. therapist), dose (standard vs. high), and approach to in-the-moment symptom management (app vs. therapist). This trial demonstrated that while all versions had a strong effect on depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, the high dose, app-only version was optimized for effect, adherence, and retention.

Given these promising findings, a formal test of the optimized Lift mobile mindfulness intervention's efficacy is needed. Therefore, the investigators propose a 4-site multicenter RCT with 6-month follow up among 450 cardiorespiratory failure survivors with elevated post-discharge symptoms of psychological distress. The specific aims will: (1) Test Lift vs. an education program control delivered by similar platforms on symptoms of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and quality of life; (2a) Determine patient-level characteristics associated with a greater treatment response among a priori-defined subgroups using a heterogeneity of treatment effects analysis; (2b) Explore novel adherence metrics and outcomes; and (3) Ensure off-the-shelf intervention readiness with an exploratory mixed-methods hybrid type 1 implementation framework analysis that integrates quantitative trial implementation data with semi-structured trial participant interviews.

Innovative and unique elements include a fully automated mobile health delivery system that personalizes content in response to changes in symptom trajectories, the inclusion of Spanish language versions of intervention and control programs, and strong community engagement with formalized roles. This project addresses national research priorities and could advance the field with a personalizable yet population-scalable therapy that has the potential to broadly improve mental health access.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

present during hospitalization

  • Adult (age ≥18)
  • Managed in an ICU for ≥24 hours during the time inclusion criterion #3 is met
  • Serious acute cardiorespiratory condition, defined as ≥1 of the following:
  • mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube for ≥4 hours
  • non-invasive ventilation (CPAP, BiPAP) for ≥4 hours in a 24-hour period provided for acute respiratory failure
  • new use of supplemental oxygen ≥6 liters per minute (or increase in baseline continuous oxygen)
  • use of vasopressors for shock of any etiology
  • use of inotropes for shock of any etiology
  • use of pulmonary vasodilators
  • use of aortic balloon pump or cardiac assist device for cardiogenic shock
  • use of diuretic intravenous drip
  • evidence of acute coronary ischemia (i.e., elevated troponin level, supporting EKG changes, unstable angina symptoms documented)
  • urgent cardiac catheterization
  • Cognitive status intact

o No history of pre-existing significant cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia) as per medical chart

  • Absence of severe and/or persistent mental illness

o Treatment for severe and/or persistent mental illness (e.g., psychosis, bipolar affective disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizoid personality disorder, schizophrenia [as per medical record], hospitalization for any psychiatric disorder) within the 6 months preceding the current hospital admission

  • Functional fluency in English or Spanish (i.e., sufficient knowledge of English or Spanish to complete study tasks like watch videos, complete surveys)

Inclusion criteria

present after hospital discharge (i.e., at the time of arrival home after discharge from the hospital):

  • Elevated baseline psychological distress symptoms, defined as a PHQ-9 score ≥5

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

present in the hospital:

  • Discharged to a location other than a home setting (e.g., nursing home, long-term acute care facility, inpatient rehabilitation facility)

Exclusion criteria

present after hospital discharge (i.e., at T1 Data Collection conducted at the time of arrival home from the hospital):

  • Severe psychological distress as assessed by endorsement of active suicidality (see Protection of Human Subjects document for study team management of this finding)
  • Failure to randomize within 1 month after discharge from the hospital to home
  • Failure to login to study app and access content within 2 weeks after randomization

Treatment and study plan

Lift mobile mindfulness

Behavioral

Mobile app-based mindfulness program for serious illness survivors

Enlighten Recovery education program

Behavioral

Mobile app-based critical illness education program for serious illness survivors

Primary outcomes

  1. Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    The PHQ-9 is a primary trial outcome measure and the PHQ-9 score at 1 month is the primary trial outcome (Kroenke K, et al. J Gen Intern Med 606-13, 2001). The PHQ-9 is a well-validated metric with English and Spanish versions used in thousands of RCTs. Scores can range from 0 (no depression symptoms) to 27 (serious depression symptoms). The PHQ-9 MCID is 2-4 units.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    The GAD-7, like the related PHQ-9, has excellent psychodynamic properties including reliability, test-retest stability, accuracy, responsiveness, and validity as supported by confirmatory factor analysis (Spitzer RL, et al. Arch Intern Med. 166:1092-1097, 2006). GAD-7 scores can range from 0 [no distress] to 21 [high distress]); symptom severity is interpreted as mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), and severe (15-21). The GAD-7 MCID is 2-4 units.

  2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 months

    The GAD-7, like the related PHQ-9, has excellent psychodynamic properties including reliability, test-retest stability, accuracy, responsiveness, and validity as supported by confirmatory factor analysis (Spitzer RL, et al. Arch Intern Med. 166:1092-1097, 2006). GAD-7 scores can range from 0 [no distress] to 21 [high distress]); symptom severity is interpreted as mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), and severe (15-21). The GAD-7 MCID is 2-4 units.

  3. The Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome inventory (PTSS)

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    The PTSS rates 10 post-traumatic stress symptoms (range 10 [no symptoms] to 70 [high burden of symptoms]). A score >20 represents clinically important PTSD symptoms, while a score >=34 suggests likely PTSD.(Nickel M, et al. J Int Care Med. 19:285-290, 2004; Stoll C, et al. Int Care Med. 25:697-704, 1999) Compared to DSM-IV criteria, it is 98% specific and 77% sensitive for the diagnosis of PTSD among ICU survivors.(Stoll C, et al. Int Care Med. 25:697-704, 1999) The PTSS has excellent internal consistency, reliability, and responsiveness. (Schelling G, et al. Crit Care Med. 26:651-659, 1998; Twigg E, et al. Acta Anaesth Scand. 52:202-208, 2008) Furthermore, it is short and easily understood. Although formal psychometric testing has not clearly defined the PTSS's minimal clinically important difference, a 5-unit change represents a significant change in score in a single item and will therefore be used as a benchmark for this project.

  4. The Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome inventory (PTSS)

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    The PTSS rates 10 post-traumatic stress symptoms (range 10 [no symptoms] to 70 [high burden of symptoms]). A score >20 represents clinically important PTSD symptoms, while a score >=34 suggests likely PTSD.(Nickel M, et al. J Int Care Med. 19:285-290, 2004; Stoll C, et al. Int Care Med. 25:697-704, 1999) Compared to DSM-IV criteria, it is 98% specific and 77% sensitive for the diagnosis of PTSD among ICU survivors.(Stoll C, et al. Int Care Med. 25:697-704, 1999) The PTSS has excellent internal consistency, reliability, and responsiveness. (Schelling G, et al. Crit Care Med. 26:651-659, 1998; Twigg E, et al. Acta Anaesth Scand. 52:202-208, 2008) Furthermore, it is short and easily understood. Although formal psychometric testing has not clearly defined the PTSS's minimal clinically important difference, a 5-unit change represents a significant change in score in a single item and will therefore be used as a benchmark for this project.

  5. The Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome inventory (PTSS)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 months

    The PTSS rates 10 post-traumatic stress symptoms (range 10 [no symptoms] to 70 [high burden of symptoms]). A score >20 represents clinically important PTSD symptoms, while a score >=34 suggests likely PTSD.(Nickel M, et al. J Int Care Med. 19:285-290, 2004; Stoll C, et al. Int Care Med. 25:697-704, 1999) Compared to DSM-IV criteria, it is 98% specific and 77% sensitive for the diagnosis of PTSD among ICU survivors.(Stoll C, et al. Int Care Med. 25:697-704, 1999) The PTSS has excellent internal consistency, reliability, and responsiveness. (Schelling G, et al. Crit Care Med. 26:651-659, 1998; Twigg E, et al. Acta Anaesth Scand. 52:202-208, 2008) Furthermore, it is short and easily understood. Although formal psychometric testing has not clearly defined the PTSS's minimal clinically important difference, a 5-unit change represents a significant change in score in a single item and will therefore be used as a benchmark for this project.

  6. The EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D)

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    The EQ-5D is an easily understood, validated 5-item (plus a 100-point visual analog scale) quality of life measure that has been used successfully in >100 ICU survivor studies.(EuroQOL group. Health Policy. 16:199-208, 1990; Unroe M, et al. Ann Int Med. 153:167-175, 2010) It is considered a Core Measure for ICU outcomes research.

  7. The EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D)

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    The EQ-5D is an easily understood, validated 5-item (plus a 100-point visual analog scale) quality of life measure that has been used successfully in >100 ICU survivor studies.(EuroQOL group. Health Policy. 16:199-208, 1990; Unroe M, et al. Ann Int Med. 153:167-175, 2010) It is considered a Core Measure for ICU outcomes research.

  8. The EuroQOL-5D (EQ-5D)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 months

    The EQ-5D is an easily understood, validated 5-item (plus a 100-point visual analog scale) quality of life measure that has been used successfully in >100 ICU survivor studies.(EuroQOL group. Health Policy. 16:199-208, 1990; Unroe M, et al. Ann Int Med. 153:167-175, 2010) It is considered a Core Measure for ICU outcomes research.

  9. The Patient Health Questionnaire 10-Item scale (PHQ-10)

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 month

    The investigators will use the PHQ-10, which is an adaptation of the PHQ-15 (Kroenke K, et a. Psychosom Med. 64:258-66, 2002), a scale they have used successfully in past work, to assess physical symptoms across 10 domains. The PHQ-15 is reliable, responsive, and easily understood. The study team's PHQ-10 adaptation collapsed several pain items into a single item based on patient feedback. The scale is from 0 to 30.

  10. The Patient Health Questionnaire 10-Item scale (PHQ-10)

    Time frame: Baseline to 3 months

    The investigators will use the PHQ-10, which is an adaptation of the PHQ-15 (Kroenke K, et a. Psychosom Med. 64:258-66, 2002), a scale they have used successfully in past work, to assess physical symptoms across 10 domains. The PHQ-15 is reliable, responsive, and easily understood. The study team's PHQ-10 adaptation collapsed several pain items into a single item based on patient feedback. The scale is from 0 to 30.

  11. The Patient Health Questionnaire 10-Item scale (PHQ-10)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 months

    The investigators will use the PHQ-10, which is an adaptation of the PHQ-15 (Kroenke K, et a. Psychosom Med. 64:258-66, 2002), a scale they have used successfully in past work, to assess physical symptoms across 10 domains. The PHQ-15 is reliable, responsive, and easily understood. The study team's PHQ-10 adaptation collapsed several pain items into a single item based on patient feedback. The scale is from 0 to 30, with higher scores meaning more functional issues.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Christopher Cox

CONTACT

[email protected]

Kristy Johnson

CONTACT

[email protected]

9196817232

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Duke University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Registry information

Official study title

Self-directed Mobile Mindfulness to Address ICU Survivors' Psychological Distress: Lift RCT (Lift 3)

Acronym: Lift 3

Important dates

Study start
2027
Primary completion
2031
Study completion
2031
First posted
Jun 8, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 8, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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