Talking therapy for people living with obesity
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Talking therapy for body awareness and managing emotions for people living with obesity: a multiple baseline study
IRAS ID
308241
Contact name
Alexandria Phillips
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University of London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with heavier body weight (BMI>30) often have difficulties identifying and managing emotions. The ability to detect bodily signals that give rise to emotional states is known as interoception and is often poor in this population (Robinson et al., 2021). Poor interoception can lead to unhelpful ways of coping such as emotional eating which maintains difficulties with weight (Young et al., 2017).
Therefore, talking therapies that target emotion regulation and interoception in obese populations are needed (Willem at el., 2019). The biological underpinnings of interoception are located within the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Polyvagal informed therapy (PVT; Dana & Porges, 2018) is a psychological intervention that draws on polyvagal theory of ANS to help people become aware of their physiological responses (improve interoception), emotionally regulate and have more choice over how to respond to environmental cues (Dana, 2018).
This study aims to evaluate whether PVT is effective at improving awareness (interoception) and regulation of emotions. 9 participants will be recruited from Ashford and St Peters Hospital Specialist Weight Management Service. To ensure a high quality of research, this study will adopt a single-case experimental design (SCED). Participants will be randomised to start therapy after a baseline period of either 7, 14, or 21 days. The intervention consists of 6 therapy sessions over a 10-week period. Participants will continue to complete measures for a follow up period of 21 days. This study will also evaluate how acceptable the therapy is for this group.
This study is part of a clinical psychology doctorate project at Royal Holloway University of London.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0178
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion