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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03223545

Stress Management to Support Women's Health

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy intervention delivered over the phone (MBCT-T) for women with prehypertension. MBCT-T is an evidence-based program that teaches meditation practices and cognitive strategies to reduce stress and negative emotions. It targets psychosocial risk factors that disproportionately affect women, including rumination (i.e., negative thinking) and low social support. Investigators plan to translate the established MBCT-T program into Spanish, conduct focus groups to inform cultural adaptations that may be needed for Latina women, and run a pilot randomized controlled trial to test the feasibility, acceptability and effects of MBCT-T on blood pressure and perceived stress in diverse women with prehypertension.

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Key information

Conditions

Hypertension Cardiovascular Diseases Stress Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

New York University School of Medicine

New York, 10016, United States

About this study

Chronic stress is associated with the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Reducing stress may be a useful prevention strategy for people at elevated risk of hypertension, including those with prehypertension. Women report different types of stress than men and may need tailored stress management programs.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Female
  • English- or Spanish-speaking
  • A current patient of NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center (BHC) for the NYU study site or San Ysidro Health Center (SYHC) for the UCSD study site
  • BP measurement in prehypertensive range (SBP 120-139 mmHg or DBP 80-89 mmHg) recorded in EHR within past 6 months AND BP in prehypertensive range at screening
  • Willing to provide informed consent and comply with all aspects of the protocol
  • Willing to be audio-taped

Exclusion criteria

  • Current use of antihypertensive medication
  • Clinically significant depressive symptoms (PHQ-8 ≥10)
  • Significant cognitive impairment, in the EHR or apparent during screening
  • History of current diagnosis of schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders
  • Current participation in another clinical trial

Treatment and study plan

MBCT-T

Behavioral

This 8-week program combines mindfulness training with cognitive therapy and is delivered to small groups of patients by telephone using a conference line. Each weekly session is 1 hour long and is comprised of a check-in period, teaching on the week's topic, group discussion, a skill-building exercise, and a home-based practice assignment.

Usual Care

Behavioral

Treatment guidelines recommend counseling patients with prehypertension on the importance of lifestyle modification to reduce BP. Because of variability in counseling across primary care practices, the study team will provide all participants with NHLBI print educational materials to ensure exposure to lifestyle recommendations: "Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure"; and "Facts about the DASH Eating Plan".

Primary outcomes

  1. Blood pressure

    Time frame: 3 Months

    The mean of three BP readings taken by a trained RA with an automated and validated BP monitor (Microlife WatchBP Office) will be recorded at each visit. Participants will be seated comfortably for 5 minutes with feet flat on the ground prior to measurements. The device will take three readings at 2-minute intervals.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Perceived stress

    Time frame: 3 Months

    Items are rated on a 5-point scale, and higher total scores indicate greater perceived stress.

  2. Measure of Depressive Symptoms using the PHQ-8

    Time frame: 3 Months

    The PHQ-8 is a validated measure of depressive symptoms during the prior two weeks based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for major depression. The PHQ-8 will be completed at screening; patients with scores ≥10, suggestive of clinically significant depressive symptoms, will be excluded and provided with treatment referrals.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

NYU Langone Health

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Jul 21, 2017
Registry last updated
Aug 14, 2020

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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