Dr. Charles R. Jonassaint
mHealth tool could help SCD patients lower stress and manage pain — without opioids.
In previous features on sickle cell disease, we’ve focused on SCD’s impact on Black people who suffer more with this inherited blood disorder than any other group.
According to the CDC, SCD happens in about 1 out of every 365 Black births. About 1 in 13 Black babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT).
Like other medical conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, Black people with SCD face racial health disparities that impact their physical care and mental health.
When you combine that inequality with Black people’s general mistrust of the medical community and mental health stigma, it’s easy to understand why many SCD patients find it hard to stay on top of their ongoing treatment.
But there’s good news. SCD patients are living longer, more productive lives, thanks to new treatment, advances, and medical care.
However, these individuals are still struggling with pain that can move from chronic to acute and back again.
Acute pain can send SCD patients to the ER and take a toll on their mental health and quality of life.
According to recent research by Dr. Charles R. Jonassaint published in the British Journal of Haematology, 8% of study participants reported at last one mental health disorder. Six percent noted a mood disorder, while 7% had an anxiety disorder.
What triggers a pain crisis?
According to Dr. Jonassaint, who is a University of Pittsburgh assistant professor of medicine, social work and clinical translational science — and member of UPMC’s Sickle Cell Disease team — “stress” is second only to “weather” in triggering severe pain.
“Here’s just one example,” he explains. “A patient – who’s already dealing with chronic SCD pain — loses a beloved family member. That grief, and the stress associated with it, will trigger a pain crisis that sends them to the ER and may include a hospital stay and a lengthy recovery period.”
A pain crisis may also involve standard treatment with opioids/narcotics despite what we now know about addiction. “Whatever we can do to lessen a patient’s dependence on opioids is a priority,” Dr. Jonassaint adds.
It makes sense then to help SCD patients understand the signs of stress and give them ways to lower it. “If patients can change their behavior in a way that reduces stress, the hope is that they will avoid a pain crisis and suffer less overall,” he continues.
Dr. Jonassaint’s research at Pitt focuses on improving pain and mental health care for people who live in underserved communities.
He and his team believe that one way to lower stress for SCD patients is to use technology to teach them relaxation techniques.
With that in mind, Dr. Jonassaint is currently conducting a study called CaRISMA, a clinical trial built for the SCD community by the SCD community.
“CaRISMA is our name for a mobile, technology-based program that treats SCD pain in a way that doesn’t rely on medications,” he explains. “It stands for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Real-Time Pain Management Intervention for Sickle Cell via Mobile Applications,” he says laughingly. “You can see why we shortened it.”
“From a research standpoint, we know that people who suffer from other diseases can use behavioral techniques to better manage their pain without the use of drugs. So why not people with SCD?”
What is CaRISMA? It’s a current research study involving SCD patients with chronic pain.
These patients use their smartphones to access a popular social media app that serves as a health tracking system, teaching center, and support group. Patients continue taking their prescribed medications as indicated.
When CaRISMA participants are chosen, they’re split into two groups. One group learns more about SCD via video education lessons and facts created by Sickle Cell 101.
The other group learns about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and how it can be used to lower stress.
“Participants learn how CBT can help them recognize unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that may trigger an SCD pain crisis,” says Dr. Jonassaint.
Once patients can recognize the behaviors, CaRISMA teaches them ways to change their negative thoughts and lower stress thru methods like distraction, activity scheduling, and relaxation.
“It’s a toolkit for understanding how our thoughts and emotions affect our actions,” he says.
Both the education and CBT groups check-in regularly with a personal health coach via phone, text or both.
Many of these coaches are adults living with SCD. All of them provide weekly emotional and informational support.
“Empathy is important for everyone’s mental health, but especially people who suffer with chronic pain,” says Dr. Jonassaint.
CaRISMA also features:
- “Celia,” a chat bot that’s available 24/7. Celia provides healthy lifestyle tips and facts about SCD and helps users apply what they’ve learned.
- An online SCD support group of people who face similar challenges and who support each other thru virtual meet-up activities.
- A pain diary that records and tracks trends in a participant’s daily pain and mood.
- Toolbox and badges that let participants access content from previous lessons.
What’s especially unique about CaRISMA is what Dr. Jonassaint calls “warrior stories.” He notes, “Warrior stories are teaching videos created by real SCD patients. They are not actors. They’re open and honest as they discuss their experiences with SCD. They know what they’re talking about.”
What does Dr. Jonassaint hope the study will tell him and his team? “We want to know which approach is more effective at helping SCD patients reduce pain — and the depression associated with the pain. Is that the smartphone digital CBT group or the education group?
“Personally, we also hope that the knowledge and support patients received from CaRISMA will help them feel more confident, so they can advocate for themselves with health care professionals and family members.”
“People who suffer with SCD carry a heavy burden that impacts their mental health and quality of life in a profound way,” Dr. Jonassaint continues.
“Can we use smartphone technology and mHealth tools to empower these individuals to feel better without the need for opioids? I’m hopeful we can.”
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