Developing an Integrative, Recovery-Based, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) Psychotherapeutic Intervention

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Long COVID

In brief

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS), colloquially known as Long COVID, is a prevalent phenomenon that affects thousands of Veterans in VA care. VA patients suffering from Long COVID not only experience lingering physical symptoms following COVID-19 infection, but have increased mental health problems including sleep disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma and stress-related disorders as well as increased use of opioid and non-opioid pain medications, antidepressants, and sedatives to treat these conditions. Developing recovery-oriented care, "a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential" is a VA priority, however available Long COVID treatments primarily target symptom relief and are not designed to promote the recovery and rehabilitation of Veterans in a mental health context. Long COVID Coping and Recovery (LCCR) is a promising manualized, recovery-focused psychotherapeutic group intervention which aims to improve psychological adjustment to Long COVID symptoms, promote resilience, and facilitate coping, based on established psychotherapeutic techniques such as skills training, acceptance-based and identity-based principles. The investigators will assess rates of recruitment, intervention engagement, and session attendance (feasibility), Veteran satisfaction (acceptability), treatment adherence (fidelity) and preliminarily explore response to Long COVID Coping and Recovery (LCCR). Findings will be used to make a final adaptation of the treatment materials and to develop a research protocol for a large scale RCT of LCCR for Veterans with Long COVID. This study will pilot test a well-specified, group-based intervention tailored to the unique needs of Veterans with Long COVID. The results of the proposed study will provide data to 1) identify adaptations needed to optimize LCCR for Veterans with Long COVID; 2) identify possible benefits of LCCR; 3) inform development of a large scale RCT of LCCR for Veterans with Long COVID.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT05453201

Run by

VA Office of Research and Development

People needed

22

Starts

2022-10-01

Expected to finish

2024-09-30

Last updated by the study team

2025-04-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• U.S. Veteran
• Ages 18-80
• Positive screen for Long COVID (e.g. COVID-19 positive, diagnosed with a PCR test, an antibodies blood test, and or a diagnosis by a physician at the JJPVAMC Long COVID Clinic and symptoms lasting 1 month or longer after infection)
• Participation in VA services at the JJPVAMC
• Sufficient clinical stability and readiness to participate in group therapy as deemed by their VA service provider

You may not qualify if…

• Active alcohol or opiate dependence requiring medically supervised withdrawal
• Active psychosis
• MINI Mental Status < 23 or inability to function in a group setting
• Unable to operate telehealth platforms or other electronic devices
• Non-English speaking
• Lack of capacity to consent
• Unable or unwilling to provide at least one contact for emergency purposes

Where it is running

• James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY — The Bronx, New York, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.