Systemic therapy for people with dementia (STORY)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring systemic therapy as post-diagnostic support for people living with dementia and their families
IRAS ID
327399
Contact name
Alys Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 31 days
Research summary
Almost 1 million people live with dementia in the UK. People with dementia may have difficulty understanding and expressing their feelings. Someone with dementia may need more support from their family, which can lead to problems in their relationships. As there is currently no cure for dementia, it is important to support people in their relationships with their family and friends. One way to do this is through talking therapy, which involves regular appointments where people can talk about their problems with a therapist. Systemic or family therapy is a form of talking therapy where families discuss relationship difficulties together. We do not know if this therapy is helpful for people with dementia, as no research has been done in the UK. This makes it difficult for therapists to know the best way to deliver therapy to families affected by dementia. This study will explore the experiences of people with dementia and their families when they have systemic therapy.
The study will have three phases. In Phase 1, we will observe therapy appointments for 10-12 people with dementia and their families. We will use our observations to understand how therapists work with the person with dementia and their family. We will interview participants (people with dementia and family members) after their first appointment to find out what they think about therapy. We will also interview them after their last therapy session to ask how their therapy went, and if they have had any changes in their mental health or their relationships.
In Phase 2 we will interview 12-15 therapists who deliver systemic therapy to people with dementia in NHS or private clinics. This will help us understand their experiences, and what they think therapists should know about dementia. We will also interview 5-6 service managers and commissioners (people who design and fund therapy services), to understand how they make decisions and whether they have faced any barriers to running these services.
In Phase 3, we will discuss findings from Phases 1 and 2 in workshops involving people with dementia, family members and therapists. They will develop guidance together for how systemic therapy should be delivered to families where someone has dementia. We will design information packs that can be given to families before they start systemic therapy.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/YH/0262
Date of REC Opinion
23 Jan 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion