Effectiveness of a brief distress tolerance group: pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Measuring the effect of a brief distress tolerance group on participant’s ability to tolerate distress, with females with substance difficulties, in a high support inpatient rehabilitation service: a pilot study.
IRAS ID
359535
Contact name
Sally Drought
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cygnet Healthcare
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/H783X , Open Science Framework (DOI registration link)
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 29 days
Research summary
The current research project aims to explore whether participant’s levels of distress, and thus ability to tolerate distress, will have improved following their engagement in a pilot, 8 session distress tolerance group. This will be based on data from pre and post measures.
The group will be facilitated by a Forensic Psychologist in Training, under supervision of a Consultant Forensic Psychologist. The group will be facilitated in a high support rehabilitation hospital for females, who are currently under a section of the Mental Health Act.
This will be the first occasion of piloting the distress tolerance skills group intervention in this service. The group intervention is informed by current Dialectical Behaviour Therapy distress tolerance skills.
The participant’s levels of distress would be self-report using the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS). Consent and agreement have been obtained from the authors of the DTS, for the scale to be utilised for research purposes.
Hypothesis - There will be an improvement in participant’s ability to tolerate distress, following their engagement in the group intervention. Scores on the post outcome measure, specifically the DTS, will be higher than the pre outcome measure scores.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0214
Date of REC Opinion
15 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion