CES MRI - and + population differences on psychological constructs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A pilot study to investigate if the psychological constructs of ‘Valued Living’, ‘Acceptance’, ‘Intolerance of Uncertainty’ as well as pain intensity can differentiate between patients who through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are found to either have Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES MRI+) or not (CES MRI-) as the cause of a common physiological symptomatology
IRAS ID
245155
Contact name
Paul Graham Morris
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This current pilot study will investigate if the psychological constructs of ‘Valued Living’, ‘Acceptance’, ‘Intolerance of Uncertainty’ as well as pain intensity can differentiate between patients who through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are confirmed to have the suspected lower back condition Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES MRI+) or not (CES MRI-) as the cause of their common physical symptoms. Findings will hope to better inform care pathways, service development and treatment for the CES MRI- population, which currently has both a high cost utility within the NHS and poor health outcomes.
Participant Population
-Patients who were referred to The department of Neurosurgery at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (NHS Grampian) between 2010 and August 2018 with suspected CES and who received a diagnostic MRI scan.Methodology
-Suitable participants will be identified by the researcher from an electronic patient database (PACS) along with their MRI diagnosis (CES + or CES-). The patients’ residential postal address details will also be accessed via electronic database records and used.-These individuals will be posted a cover letter, participant information sheet, an inclusion/exclusion criteria questionnaire, and the outcome measures (Valued Living Questionnaire, The Acceptance and Action II Questionnaire, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (short form) & Numeric Pain Rating Scale along with a reply paid envelope to return completed documents.
-Returned questionnaires will be scored by an honorary assistant psychologist who will be unaware of the MRI + or MRI– status of the respondents. Statistical analysis will be administered to answer the proposed research questions.
-After the study is completed, participants will be able to access a web-link/wiki page (the details of which are provided on the Participant Information Sheet) with a research finding summary sheet presented on it and a contact email if they have any questions regarding the findings and research implications.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0468
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion