An evaluation of an adapted ACT group for stroke survivors
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A mixed-methods evaluation of an adapted Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group for stroke survivors and their carers: ACTivate Your Life After Stroke.\n\nN.B. Please note change of name from ’ACTion after Stroke’ to ’ACTivate your life after stroke’. The former name appears on the sponsors letter, however the documents provided for review are the same. The name was changed to remain consistent across all research sites.
IRAS ID
187893
Contact name
Sarah/Rebecca Harris/Large
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cardiff University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
Stroke is one of the main causes of acquired adult disability in the UK (Scarborough, et al., 2009). Many psychological problems can also occur including: depression (Hacket et al., 2005), anxiety (Campbell Burton et al., 2013), fatigue (Glader et al., 2002), apathy (Angelelli et al., 2004) and post-traumatic stress disorder (Edmondson et al., 2013). This has a marked impact on health service usage (Naylor et al., 2012).\n\nPsychological intervention for post stroke care has been incorporated into national guidelines (Royal College of Physicians [RCP], 2012; Welsh Government, 2012). Despite this, there is an outstanding need to increase and improve psychological resources within these services (National Audit Office [NAO], 2010). \n\nWe propose to adapt and evaluate the effectiveness of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group intervention for adult stroke survivors and their carers. The benefit of ACT is that it is transdiagnostic (Lang et al., 2012) therefore applicable to the very wide range of psychological problems found in carers and survivors after stroke. The group will hence endeavour to promote positive adjustment and reduce levels of depression and anxiety.\n\nACT has a well-established evidence base for reducing psychological distress in individuals with mental illness (Ruiz, 2010, 2012) and physical health conditions including: diabetes (Hadlandsmyth et al., 2013), chronic pain (Alonso et al., 2013), epilepsy (T. Lundgren et al., 2008), cancer (Feros et al., 2013), irritable bowel syndrome (Ferreira et al., 2013) obesity (Weineland et al., 2012) and HIV (Silver, 2012).\n\nThis study will have two parts. Part 1: a quantitative phase evaluating the effectiveness of the ACT group using questionnaire outcome data in comparison to a waiting list control across three time points. Part 2: A qualitative phase exploring stroke survivors experiences of the ACT group and their perceptions of any change from group attendance.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0224
Date of REC Opinion
19 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion