ACT with older adults in the community:feasibility & change mechanisms
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with a community older adult sample: a feasibility study investigating mechanisms of change.
IRAS ID
246614
Contact name
Hamish McLeod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Lanarkshire
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
With an ageing population it is even more important to meet the mental health needs of older people. Historically, a psychological treatment approach called Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been most commonly used. CBT partly reduces mental health difficulties by challenging and modifying difficult thoughts. However, some evidence suggests Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be an appropriate alternative for older people who often present with several difficulties, AND have thoughts or problems that may be unchangeable (E.g. loss, chronic health problems). While ACT is also a psychological therapy, it differs from CBT in that it encourages people to use mindfulness and acceptance to cope with uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. The focus is on living life in line what matters to the individual (Harris, 2009).
Participants in this study will be aged 60 years or over and known to psychology services in Lanarkshire as community patients. This is a feasibility trial of ACT with older people asking:
• Do participants find ACT acceptable/beneficial?
• What might help ACT to be more beneficial?
Patients with a learning disability or cognitive impairment, or if part of their mental health difficulties means they cannot meaningfully participate in the group will be ineligible.
Patients will be invited to take part in a 5 session ACT group which will be delivered in an outpatient setting in NHS Lanarkshire. In addition, they will be given sufficient time to consider if they would like to take part in the research element. This will involve filling out questionnaires and being interviewed after the groups. It is hoped this research will contribute to the limited, but growing evidence based for ACT in an older population, and contribute to a better understanding of how ACT works.REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EM/0393
Date of REC Opinion
5 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion