An ACT Manual-Based, Guided Self-help Intervention Pilot. Version 3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a Low-Intensity, Manual-Based, Guided Self-Help Intervention for Anxiety and Depression: A Pilot Study.
IRAS ID
166325
Contact name
Shane Ford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 0 days
Research summary
Many patients are offered written self-help material as a stage 1 (low intensity) intervention for anxiety and/or depression, as recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence’s pathways framework (http://pathways.nice.org.uk/).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an emerging therapy that has been shown to help patients with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression in therapist-led individual and group treatments. However, few studies have shown how effective ACT is in the form of a low-intensity, guided self-help intervention.
This study seeks to find out whether an ACT-based manual, sent to patients with anxiety and/or depression, increases their ability to effectively manage their difficulties and improve their quality of life. Participants on a primary care mental health waiting list will be invited to take part in this study (it will not affect their anticipated individual treatment, nor will it increase their waiting time). Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: the ACT intervention or waiting list as usual. Participants receiving the ACT intervention will be posted a manual and will be asked to read a chapter each week for six weeks. A member of the research team will also phone them on two occasions to support their use of the manual, trouble shoot any difficulties and provide encouragement. All participants will be asked to complete nine, short questionnaires sent through the post prior to and after six weeks of self-help. By comparing the results the study will demonstrate whether the ACT intervention is effective compared to wait list as usual.
This study will have strong implications with regards to patient choice should it show that the ACT intervention is beneficial. It will allow clinicians to offer an additional therapeutic intervention at the first stages of patient care, thus potentially reducing the need for additional therapist input.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
15/WS/0056
Date of REC Opinion
24 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion