Carers' experiences of receiving an IPT-A intervention

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    What are carers' experiences of receiving an Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A) intervention?

  • IRAS ID

    330849

  • Contact name

    Scott Steen

  • Contact email

    s.steen@herts.ac.uk

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    n/a, n/a

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 9 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    This study will explore the experiences of carers who have undergone an Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A) intervention. IPT-A has been shown to be effective in clinical trials, resulting in reduced depressive symptoms and longer term outcomes. Nevertheless, there is a lack of existing qualitative research within IPT-A, and no exploration of the experience of the intervention. This is surprising given IPT-A is a NICE guideline recommended therapy for adolescents with depression and their families. Therefore, this project aims to fill the gap by giving voice to carers' experiences; develop the evidence base; and provide insight for IPT-A practitioners and services more widely who are supporting young people and their families.

    Participants will be identified by the field supervisor and other local collaborators. Recruitment will involve twelve to eighteen carers who have undergone the IPT-A intervention and are eligible to take part. This study will take the form of an individual semi-structured interview which will last approximately 60 minutes. Participants will be invited to talk about their experience of being involved in an IPT-A intervention; what they have found helpful/less helpful. The interviews will take place remotely over Microsoft Teams, as per security and data protection measures provided by the University of Hertfordshire and the NHS Trusts.

    This study is supported by the University of Hertfordshire in collaboration with CAMHS across Hertfordshire. Contact has been made with the Research and Development team, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. The student investigator is in correspondence with other potential sites which will follow the same procedure of local collaborator for recruitment which will be added as an amendment.

    As this study is part of a Doctoral qualification, there are time limits to the project and therefore is anticipated to be completed by July 2024, and submitted for publication to peer-reviewed journals soon after.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    23/WM/0276

  • Date of REC Opinion

    11 Jan 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion