Mobile self-directed coping program to ease depression, anxiety, and PTSD after serious heart or lung failure
Official title: 1/2 Self-directed mobile adaptive coping skills intervention to improve psychological distress symptoms among cardiorespiratory failure survivors: the Blueprint RCT
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11324520 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A self-guided smartphone program that teaches adaptive coping skills to help adults recovering from ARDS, COVID pneumonia, sepsis, or heart failure feel less depression, anxiety, and PTSD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $762,327 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3HL168487-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324520 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults recently hospitalized for ARDS, COVID pneumonia, sepsis, or congestive heart failure who have ongoing psychological distress and can use a smartphone are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without current psychological distress, those who lack smartphone access or digital literacy, or those needing intensive in-person psychiatric care may not benefit from the app alone.
What this research studies
You would use an automated, symptom-responsive mobile app that delivers short, adaptive coping-skills lessons tailored to how you are feeling. Participants are randomly assigned to the app or usual care so researchers can compare mental health and quality-of-life outcomes. The team builds on prior telephone, web, and pilot mobile work that showed good adherence and strong symptom improvements. The goal is to test the app across a broader group of people recovering from cardiorespiratory failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce depression, anxiety, and PTSD and improve quality of life for survivors of serious heart and lung illnesses.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier telephone- and web-based trials and a single-center pilot of the mobile Blueprint app reported good adherence and meaningful reductions in depression, anxiety, PTSD, and improved quality of life.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cox, Christopher Ethan — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Cox, Christopher Ethan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.