Emotional dysregulation and the experience of relationships in groups
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationship experiences of people with emotional dysregulation in brief group psycho-education.
IRAS ID
184454
Contact name
Sabine Harland
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomon's Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 29 days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship experiences of people with emotional dysregulation in a newly developed psycho-educational group intervention. The group is called Systems Training for Emotional Predictability and Problem Solving –Emotional Intensity (STEPPS-EI). Emotional dysregulation is a feature of borderline personality disorder, but is also present when people display traits of the condition. Emotional dysregulation refers to instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, which is referred to as emotional intensity within the intervention. The development of these mental health difficulties are linked to the relationship with care givers in early life and this subsequently leads to instability in future interpersonal relationships. There has not been a focus on developing suitable interventions for people with emotional dysregulation who present in a primary care setting, but an effectiveness study is currently being carried out on a psycho-educational group with these particular service users.
The current study will explore how people experience relationships in the psycho-educational group and the impact on relationship outside of the group in order to gain an in depth understanding of how emotional dysregulation may affect these. The result of the research would inform future clinical practice by supporting the further development of protocols and delivery of psycho-educational interventions for people experiencing emotional dysregulation in a primary care setting.
People who have taken part in the psycho-educational groups (STEPPS-EI) in Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be invited to participate in this study with the aim of recruiting eight to ten service users. Participants will take part in a one hour interview about their interpersonal relationships within the psycho-educational group, how these relationships contribute to their experiences in other relationships and the experience of the intervention ending.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0011
Date of REC Opinion
25 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion