What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 111 patients with anxiety. The study was sponsored by Duke University and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
Family members using the app saw a 6.6-point greater improvement in unmet needs scores after three days.
JAMA network open · 2024 · NCT03506438
These findings — that families using the app had fewer unmet support needs by day three — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 111 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with anxiety, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was a research study and ICUconnect is not yet widely available. The findings showed promise for White families but the app did not help Black families as much, which needs to be addressed. If your loved one is in the ICU, ask the medical team about palliative care support and resources for family members.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open anxiety trials
Evolution of Insomnia During the First Year in Patients Newly Diagnosed With Cancer
The diagnosis of cancer can be a major trigger for new sleep problems, especially insomnia, in people who did not have sleep issues before. Insomnia may appear early in the care pathway and can continue over time, often interacting with other physical or emotional symptoms. The main goal of this preliminary study is to describe how insomnia develops during the first months after a cancer diagnosis in patients who had no sleep problems at the time of diagnosis. This will be done through regular follow-up over time. A secondary aim is to identify the factors that may contribute to the onset or persistence of insomnia, such as the cancer treatments patients receive, as well as any medical or non-medical therapies used to manage sleep difficulties. The study will also look at whether patients who develop sleep problems are referred to psychologists trained in specific therapies for insomnia, and how well they follow and adhere to these treatments.
Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation in Treatment-resistant Generalized Anxiety Disorder: a Feasibility Study
This is a feasibility study for trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) in patients with treatment-resistant generalized anxiety disorder (TR-GAD). Ten participants will receive TNS for 8 weeks as an augmentation strategy to pharmacological treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). * The primary objective is to ascertain if TNS is a safe and well-tolerated treatment for patients with TR-GAD. * The secondary objective will be to monitor changes in GAD symptom severity throughout the study. Results from this study will inform a randomized controlled trial to be conducted in the future.