Self-criticism pilot study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A novel intervention for self-criticism in IAPT services: pilot study
IRAS ID
215147
Contact name
Mehul Elliott-Joshi
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
This uncontrolled pilot seeks to develop a novel intervention based on Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) (Gilbert 2010), that reduces self-criticism and improves psychological wellbeing. The intervention is based upon recent unpublished doctoral research that developed this novel treatment within students with high levels of self-criticism. This pilot study aims to adapt the intervention for an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service, a primary mental-health service.
Self-criticism is a transdiagnostic process across common mental-health disorders and is therefore, a potential target for psychological intervention. Clients at IAPT are likely to present with high levels of self-criticism. This pilot study may help develop an alternative evidence-based intervention that can be routinely offered within IAPT services.
This pilot study aims to address the following research questions: What is the acceptability and feasibility of providing such an intervention within an IAPT service; and what is the effectiveness of this intervention?
All participants that are registered at Southwark Talking Therapies, experiencing a significant impact of self-criticism on their daily life, and requesting help for self-criticism may be eligible. Clients that provide consent to participate in this study would receive 5 (1-hour) face-to-face sessions of this intervention. They would also have an assessment session of up to 1.5 hours, a 2-month follow-up telephone session; and would be required to complete some additional questionnaires and a telephone screening assessment. Participation in this study does not make clients ineligible for routine care; they can withdraw from this study at any time and access treatment-as-usual. Should participants withdraw from the study due to distress or present in acute distress, they will be signposted to interim support as is routinely offered by the NHS.
The study will take place at Southwark Talking Therapies or the adjoining Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN). All expenses will be covered by the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Training programme at the IoPPN. The study will be completed by September 2018.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0335
Date of REC Opinion
21 Mar 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion