Research Centre: Austin Health, University of Melbourne
Location: Heidelberg VIC 3084, Australia
Lead Researcher: Professor Richard Kanaan
HREC: This study has been reviewed and approved by the Austin Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC/94244/Austin-2023)

Do you have a chronic tick-borne illness, also known as Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT)? Living with a chronic tick-borne illness can be physically, mentally, and socially challenging, and many people are in need of support.

Austin Health researchers are offering a new psychology-based program that is designed to teach practical skills that help manage symptoms and improve quality of life. This intervention aims to help you live a fulfilling life guided by your values, despite the discomfort and uncertainty of living with DSCATT.

Interested? See if you qualify for this study!

• This program combines psychological therapy with your current care, providing practical strategies for managing symptoms and improving well-being for people with DSCATT.
• Participants will be randomly allocated to either the treatment or a waiting list; those who are allocated to the waiting list will be offered the treatment after the waitlist period.
• Participants may experience improvements in their DSCATT symptoms.
• Participants will be contributing valuable information that may benefit those with DSCATT in the future.
• Participants will be helping to advance medical research.

• If you decide to participate in the study and later feel that you no longer wish to be part of it, you can withdraw at any time.
• Any information that you provide will be kept strictly confidential, except as required by law.
• Qualified health professionals will monitor your health as it relates to the study.

• Men and women aged 18 and above who are struggling with Debilitating Symptom Complexes Attributed to Ticks (DSCATT)
• Must have observed a tick bite on them, or have had a blood test which shows evidence of a tick bite in the past
• Must have access to telehealth facilities (with a video/camera set up) or the ability to attend Austin Hospital in Melbourne
• Must be able to communicate in English fluently
• Must be able to attend 16 online or in-person research sessions for approximately 20 weeks

The study team will explain the research in its entirety but some details are:

• The program consists of 16 weekly individual therapy sessions (1-hr) conducted by a trial clinician over telehealth or in person. Participants will be asked to complete activities between sessions to facilitate your progress.
• Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires about their health and wellbeing at different timepoints over the course of the program.
• Participants will be asked to either engage in a treatment program with a trial clinician or continue with their usual treatments if in the wait-list control group, with further follow-ups and feedback sessions as specified.