A Feasibility Study of a Transdiagnostic CFT group for older adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study of a Transdiagnostic Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) Group for Older Adults
IRAS ID
255137
Contact name
Fiona McConnell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 16 days
Research summary
Compassion focused therapy (CFT) is a relatively new psychological therapy. Research has shown that CFT can improve psychological wellbeing and functioning in people with anxiety and depressive disorders. Research into CFT has focused on working age adults. It would be useful to evaluate whether CFT could be of benefit to the older adult population.
The present study aims to use the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for developing and evaluating new treatments for complex conditions such as mental health. The present study aims to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a CFT group as a treatment for older adults with anxiety or depressive disorders. Additionally, the study aims to use the statistical data to inform future research.
Participants will be older adults (aged 60+) referred to NHS GGC older people’s mental health service for common mental health conditions. People with psychosis, addictions, diagnosis of dementia or risk of self-harm will be ineligible.
Participants will be offered the group as part of their treatment. Participants in the group will be identified and approached by an NHS clinician and asked to consent to participate in the study; non participation in the study will not affect their place in the group. The group protocol has been developed from previous research and will last for 10 weekly sessions of 90 minutes.
The study is mixed methods, using both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative part will use outcome measures which will look for a statistical relationship between the CFT group and changes in wellbeing and functioning. The qualitative part will use a semi-structured interview to hear people’s experiences.
The CFT group will be delivered by an NHS clinical psychologist and CPN.
Summary of Results:
Two CFT groups ran and there were thirteen participants who started and ten who completed the sessions. The main findings were that it is possible to deliver CFT as a psychological treatment within an NHS older adult service and that there are signs this may have been beneficial for participants. There are a few areas that would be useful to investigate further in future research, such as the referral process and what aspects of the treatment lead to people to experiencing positive changes in their anxiety and depression symptoms.REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
19/ES/0043
Date of REC Opinion
23 May 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion