Impact of providing CBT in Emergency Department for Frequent Attenders
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the impact of providing a cognitive behavioural therapy intervention for frequent attenders at the Emergency Department with medically unexplained symptoms.
IRAS ID
144246
Contact name
Samantha L Gibson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
There are a cohort of people who attend the Emergency Department (ED) extremely frequently (>24 times per year). In many cases the symptoms driving their presentations are medically unexplained (MUS). It appears the needs of these patients are not being met by a traditional medical approach. It could be argued that their psychopathology and the nature of health service combine to make their experience of the hospital unsatisfactory. Furthermore, despite frequent medical investigations/treatments, their symptoms persist.
Since 2011, the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (RBH) ED has provided a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) intervention to patients who frequently attend with MUS to help them manage their symptoms. Preliminary results from this clinic have identified that ED attendances have reduced for all patients who have participated. However, the results have not been able to identify if this is as a direct result of the intervention.
This research proposes to investigate if attendance patterns for patients with MUS reduced naturally over time without a CBT intervention or if patients have started attending the alternative ED in this locality. This will be achieved by comparing the RBH participants data with a control group of patients from Poole General Hospital (PGH) over the same period with MUS but have received treatment as usual (TAU). This will highlight patients who have changed from RBH to PGH and also patterns of attendance when TAU is provided as a contrast.
In addition, it is proposed to conduct interviews with willing clinic participants to ascertain why the patients believe their attendance to the ED has reduced. It is hoped this will identify what component of the intervention (if any) they found helpful in managing their symptoms. Those who choose to participate in the study will be interviewed via telephone and each will last approximately 1 hour by an independent practitioner.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0497
Date of REC Opinion
4 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion