Acceptability and feasibility of MOL in acute inpatient units

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Is Method of Levels (MOL) Therapy An Acceptable And Feasible Psychological Intervention For People Using Acute Mental Health Inpatient Services? A Case Series

  • IRAS ID

    305321

  • Contact name

    Sara Tai

  • Contact email

    sara.tai@manchester.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Manchester

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    NCT05377294

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    The current study aims to test the acceptability and feasibility of a psychological therapy called Method of Levels (MOL) as an intervention for people in acute psychiatric inpatient units who are experiencing psychosis and/or suicidality. Acceptability and feasibility will be measured by data from qualitative interviews, outcome measures, and descriptive data on engagement with the intervention.

    Once recruited participants will have a three month therapy window where they can avail of MOL sessions. Participants will be able to book sessions flexibility and will also be asked to complete quantitative questionnaires. Following the end of their therapy window they will be also asked to participate in a qualitative interview.

    MOL therapy aims to help people develop awareness of their personal goals so they can identify incompatibilities and find potential solutions. In MOL, the therapist uses a specific style to help people focus attention on the problem at hand, long enough to consider the issues from different perspectives, including reflection on the associated emotions. This process is usually very experiential and requires the client to be actively engaged in controlling the focus of the session and decision making.

    Research suggests service users admitted to inpatient services want more psychological input with their care (Care Quality Commission, 2009; Crisp et al., 2016; Awenat et al., 2018), and implementing specific psychological therapies on acute mental health wards can lower readmission rates and reduce psychotic symptoms (Paterson et al., 2018). MOL is a flexible therapeutic approach that can potentially be applied across any diagnosis. This may make it particularly suited to supporting people in acute in-patient settings, who often have multiple diagnoses and short hospital stays. MOL has been found to be a suitable intervention for people experiencing psychosis, bipolar disorder, and phobias (Tai, 2016; Mansell, 2007; Healey et al., 2017).

  • REC name

    North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/NW/0108

  • Date of REC Opinion

    12 Apr 2022

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion