TY - JOUR T1 - A Randomized Controlled Trial of an Internal Family Systems-based Psychotherapeutic Intervention on Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Proof-of-Concept Study JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1831 LP - 1841 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.121465 VL - 40 IS - 11 AU - Nancy A. Shadick AU - Nancy F. Sowell AU - Michelle L. Frits AU - Suzanne M. Hoffman AU - Shelley A. Hartz AU - Fran D. Booth AU - Martha Sweezy AU - Patricia R. Rogers AU - Rina L. Dubin AU - Joan C. Atkinson AU - Amy L. Friedman AU - Fernando Augusto AU - Christine K. Iannaccone AU - Anne H. Fossel AU - Gillian Quinn AU - Jing Cui AU - Elena Losina AU - Richard C. Schwartz Y1 - 2013/11/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/40/11/1831.abstract N2 - Objective. To conduct a proof-of-concept randomized trial of an Internal Family Systems (IFS) psychotherapeutic intervention on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity and psychological status. Methods. Patients with RA were randomized to either an IFS group for 9 months (n = 39) or an education (control) group (n = 40) that received mailed materials on RA symptoms and management. The groups were evaluated every 3 months until intervention end and 1 year later. Self-assessed joint pain (RA Disease Activity Index joint score), Short Form-12 physical function score, visual analog scale for overall pain and mental health status (Beck Depression Inventory, and State Trait Anxiety Inventory) were assessed. The 28-joint Disease Activity Score-C-reactive Protein 4 was determined by rheumatologists blinded to group assignment. Treatment effects were estimated by between-group differences, and mixed model repeated measures compared trends between study arms at 9 months and 1 year after intervention end. Results. Of 79 participants randomized, 68 completed the study assessments and 82% of the IFS group completed the protocol. Posttreatment improvements favoring the IFS group occurred in overall pain [mean treatment effects −14.9 (29.1 SD); p = 0.04], and physical function [14.6 (25.3); p = 0.04]. Posttreatment improvements were sustained 1 year later in self-assessed joint pain [−0.6 (1.1); p = 0.04], self-compassion [1.8 (2.8); p = 0.01], and depressive symptoms [−3.2 (5.0); p =0.01]. There were no sustained improvements in anxiety, self-efficacy, or disease activity. Conclusion. An IFS-based intervention is feasible and acceptable to patients with RA and may complement medical management of the disease. Future efficacy trials are warranted. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00869349. ER -