CBASP for persistent depression and complex trauma. V1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Trauma adapted Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) for persistent depression and complex trauma.
IRAS ID
271050
Contact name
Lisa M Thomson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 0 days
Research summary
Depression and trauma symptoms are harmful conditions that are often found together. When depression symptoms have been present for while, it can become persistent depression and if trauma is repeated it can become complex trauma; they are both often more difficult to treat, especially when found together. This causes a great burden on the individual's, their families, society and on health services.
A form of talking therapy called Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) has been found to be effective in treating persistent depression, but there is little research on treating both persistent depression and trauma at once. An adaptation to CBASP addressed trauma directly and improved both trauma and depression symptoms in a group of veterans; it is thought that this adapted therapy could be effective in those with both persistent depression and complex trauma symptoms.
This study will measure change in trauma symptoms (using measurements of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms) in a community sample of working age adults with persistent depression and complex trauma after receiving trauma-adapted CBASP. Participants would be identified and approached by the therapist on an assessed NHS waiting list of people waiting for therapy (normal CBASP or other types of therapy) for depression and trauma symptoms.
If participants consent to the study, questionnaires would be used to collect background information at the first meeting with the researcher. Before therapy starts depression and PTSD symptoms will be collected for 5 weeks using weekly questionnaires. Therapy would then start in an NHS setting with 20 weeks of weekly hour long sessions of trauma adapted CBASP. The therapist will collect the depression and PTSD questionnaires every week. There will be questionnaires collected at the end of therapy and at six week follow up. People would be in the study for no longer 35 weeks.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2
REC reference
20/NS/0024
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion