Feasibility and Acceptability of Group-based MANTRA Treatment For AN
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility and Acceptability of Group-based MANTRA treatment for Anorexia: An Exploration of Patient and Therapist Perspectives
IRAS ID
298006
Contact name
Amy Brown
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Background Anorexia Nervosa is a psychiatric disorder characterized by restricted eating, maintained by issues around emotional processing. It has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder. Treatments for Anorexia tend to be individual 1.1. therapeutic interventions and typically have limited effectiveness. A service-evaluation of a Group-based MANTRA model was conducted within 3 NHS Outpatients ED service sites. This showed promising outcomes in terms of the EDE-Q (Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire), but we do not currently have a good understanding of how acceptable this intervention is to therapists and patients, or factors affecting the feasibility of this intervention.
Methods/Design
Methods: Semi-structured interviews/focus groups (depending on participant preference) will be conducted over online video platforms or the telephone. Interview schedules will explore experiences of the intervention (to assess acceptability) as well as burden and barriers to delivery (to assess feasibility.) A focus group will be formed if two participants as more would prefer to be interviewed alongside another participant, but will be limited to four participants to ensure that the research is able to safeguard participant wellbeing. Separate focus groups will be formed for therapist and service user participants.
Participants: Therapists who have delivered at least three sessions of the group-based MANTRA pilot, and patients who have experienced at least three sessions. All participants will be over 18.
Analysis: A framework analysis methodology will be used to analyse the data. All transcripts will be double-coded (with at least one service user researcher coding transcripts), and a framework capturing themes will be formalized through consensus-based decision making.
Discussion/Dissemination
Results will determine priorities for changing intervention content, in order to develop an NIHR Rfpb funding proposal for a feasibility RCT of group-based MANTRA.
Following publication, members of the research team will engage in dissemination activities including social media, engagement with TV/Radio/Print media and conferences/talks.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EE/0189
Date of REC Opinion
27 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion