Evaluation of an adapted ACT group for stroke & brain injury survivors

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A Randomised Waiting List Controlled Study of Group Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to Promote Psychological Wellbeing in People Living with the Consequences of Stroke or Acquired Brain Injury (A mixed-methods evaluation of an adapted Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group to promote Psychological Flexibility, Psychological Wellbeing, and Participation in People Living with the Consequences of Stroke or Acquired Brain Injury)

• IRAS ID

  259095

• Contact name

  Daryl Harris

• Contact email

  Daryl.Harris@wales.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Clinical Trials Unit ABUHB

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 1 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) represent a major cause of long-term disability among survivors (Brooks et al., 2013; Scarborough et al., 2009). Many psychological problems can also occur including: depression (Bombardier et al., 2010; Hacket et al., 2005), anxiety (Campbell Burton et al., 2013; Osborn et al., 2016), fatigue (Glader et al., 2002; Mollayeva et al., 2014), and post-traumatic stress disorder (Edmondson et al., 2013; Hoffman et al., 2012). This has a marked impact on health service usage (Naylor et al., 2012).

  Psychological interventions after ABI and stroke have been incorporated into national guidelines (Royal College of Physicians [RCP], 2003, 2016; Welsh Government, 2012). Despite this, there is an outstanding need to increase and improve psychological resources within these services (National Audit Office [NAO], 2010).

  We propose to evaluate the effectiveness of an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) group intervention for stroke survivors and adults with ABI. The benefit of ACT is that it is transdiagnostic (Lang et al., 2012). This means it is applicable to the wide-ranging psychological difficulties experienced by individuals after a stroke or ABI. This group will aim to increase psychological flexibility to promote positive adjustment, wellbeing and to improve distress tolerance.

  ACT has a well-established evidence-base for reducing psychological distress in individuals with mental illness (Ruiz, 2010) and physical health conditions. The latter include: diabetes (Hadlandsmyth et al., 2013), chronic pain (Alonso et al., 2013), epilepsy (Lundgren et al., 2008), cancer (Feros et al., 2013), and irritable bowel syndrome (Ferreira et al., 2013).

  This 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. Part 2: A qualitative phase exploring individuals experiences of attending the group and their perceptions of any change from group attendance.

• REC name

  Wales REC 3

• REC reference

  19/WA/0026

• Date of REC Opinion

  5 Mar 2019

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion