Clinical Trial: Telemedicine Treatment for Veterans With Gulf War Illness

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Telemedicine Treatment for Veterans With Gulf War Illness

Brief Summary: Effective treatments have been developed to ameliorate symptom-related distress and reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization using cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT) . However there is a major limitation of this treatment is that patients must attend sessions in person. The specific aims of the study are to: (1) Determine the clinical efficacy of Telephone CBT for veterans with GWI who are frequent consumers of ambulatory medical care; (2) Determine whether CBT for veterans with GWI leads to a reduction in the cost of VA health care; and (3) Develop a statistical model of treatment seeking in veterans with GWI who are frequent consumers of ambulatory medical care.

Detailed Summary:

At least as far back as the American Civil War, soldiers have reported nonspecific ailments that could not be attributed to an underlying medical cause. The most frequent symptoms include persistent fatigue, palpitations, headache, muscle or joint pain, disturbed sleep, and cognitive difficulties. Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that war-related syndromes are exceptionally common in deployed personnel and may affect 45% to 60% of returning soldiers. These post-deployment symptoms have substantial consequences that include increased medical visitation, increased physical disability, and increased psychological distress. The number of veterans at risk is likely to increase rather than decrease in the years ahead. In order to address this anticipated increase, new and more efficient treatments for symptom-based illness are urgently needed to augment or replace standard VA care. An effective treatment using cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT) has been developed to ameliorate symptom-related distress and reduce unnecessary healthcare utilization. Despite convincing evidence of therapeutic efficacy, a major limitation of this treatment is that patients must attend sessions in person. This requirement may undermine the effectiveness of CBT since fewer than half of those who need treatment will attend. A recent trial of CBT for veterans with Gulf War Illness found that only 38% were treatment adherent. Any sudden increase in the number of veterans seeking care could overwhelm the limited resources of a local VA healthcare center. The proposed study will address this important public health problem by testing a cost-effective and innovative strategy for delivering CBT over the phone.

The specific aims of the study are to: (1) Determine the clinical efficacy of Telephone CBT for veterans with GWI who are frequent consumers of ambulatory medical care; (2) Determine whether CB
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Current Primary Outcome: Frequency of medical visitation [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Original Primary Outcome: Frequency of medical visitation

Current Secondary Outcome: quality of life [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Original Secondary Outcome: quality of life

Information By: VA Office of Research and Development

Dates:
Date Received: August 9, 2005
Date Started: September 2005
Date Completion:
Last Updated: November 14, 2016
Last Verified: November 2016