Inflammation and mind (IAM) study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of psychological symptoms in outpatients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
IRAS ID
237882
Contact name
David Christmas
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Patients with chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases are known to experience more difficulties with psychological symptoms such as fatigue, low mood and anxiety than healthy people. We aim to find out to what extent this is the case for different autoimmune conditions. We are focusing on three conditions: lupus, vasculitis, and Behcet's disease. Patients attending routine NHS vasculitis outpatient clinic at Cambridge University Hospitals will be asked if they would like to participate in the IAM Study (Inflammation and Mind Study). Those who consent will fill in laptop- or tablet-based questionnaires about their psychological symptoms and their life experiences. We will also record basic demographic information and information about their physical health including diagnosis, medications, symptoms, and blood test results already available in their records. This data will allow us to determine which autoimmune conditions tend to be most associated with psychological symptoms, which kinds of psychological symptoms tend to be most common in each condition, and what factors (e.g. medications) are associated with more severe psychological symptoms. This will help us to develop better services for patients, and future studies will build on this knowledge to develop better treatments for psychological symptoms in autoimmune disease.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0003
Date of REC Opinion
4 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion