HeartRater: Clinical. Optimizing ADIE therapy for the treatment of anxiety in underserved populations
Acronym: HeartRater
Trial status: Recruiting
Disease area: Mental health
Funder: Medical Research Council
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Our research team developed a novel, body-based therapy called “Aligning Dimensions of Interoceptive Experience”, or ADIE. ADIE can be particularly helpful for neurodivergent patients (e.g., autism or ADHD), or have a physical condition (e.g., chronic pain) that can make anxiety harder to control with current treatments.
Through ADIE, patients improve awareness of their heartbeats and other aspects of bodily feelings. During therapy sessions, patients use a platform called “HeartRater:Clinical”. They wear a sensor that records their heartbeats. They complete different tasks on a tablet computer that gives them information about their heartbeats as part of the therapy. In a previous trial, we showed that ADIE can reduce anxiety symptoms. However, the sensor technology that we used does not work well on people with darker skin or poor blood circulation, which can be very disruptive and makes ADIE not very inclusive. In this project, we want to test a new sensor technology, and find out if the new format will be liked and used by patients in a feasibility trial. In this trial, patients with anxiety can choose ADIE therapy over other standard therapies.
Patients who are referred to Improving Access to Psychological Therapy/Talking Therapy (IAPT/TT) services with a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, or panic disorder will be offered to receive ADIE whilst they are on the waiting list for standard therapies. Participants who consent to being part of the trial will receive ADIE therapy either with an online therapist, or self-guided, at their home. We will then test if a therapist is needed, and how patients liked ADIE therapy delivered through HeartRater:Clinical. All trial participants will meet with a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner (PWP) after therapy end and discuss if they feel they need further treatment. We will offer the participant to return to treatment as usual if necessary.
Study design: Randomised feasibility study of a clinical investigation comparing ADIE therapy with a psychological wellbeing practitioner with the control group of ADIE self-guided therapy.
Disease area: Mental Health
Trial status: Recruiting
Chief Investigators: Prof Hugo Critchley / Dr Lisa Quadt (Co-Chief Investigators)
Sponsor: University of Sussex
Funder: Medical Research Council
Start date: October 2024
End date: January 2026
Recruitment target: 100
Summary of study results: N/A
For further information contact:
Email: ctuheartrater@bsms.ac.uk