Treatment of anxiety using a transdiagnostic IU module

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Investigating the efficacy of a transdiagnostic Intolerance of Uncertainty module.

  • IRAS ID

    200931

  • Contact name

    Alice Bentley

  • Contact email

    alice.bentley@ntw.nhs.uk

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    researchregistry2900, http://www.researchregistry.com

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 10 months, 16 days

  • Research summary

    Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU) is a thinking style that can lead people to feel distressed by situations with an uncertain outcome, regardless of whether it is positive or negative. An example might be a person who chooses not to go out with a friend rather than tolerate not knowing where they will go or what they will do.
    Evidence to date indicates that IU is at the centre of most forms of anxiety. By focusing a psychological treatment (or talking therapy) on IU, we think this will help the different forms of anxiety that people can experience. Examples might be Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder or Social Anxiety.
    The purpose of this study is to test a talking therapy based on IU to establish whether it can reduce anxiety. We want to know whether helping people become more tolerant of uncertainty is effective across a wide range of anxiety problems and also whether enhancing peoples toleration of uncertainty impacts related thinking, emotions and behaviours. The treatment is based on existing evidence based therapy but will have a specific module based on IU so as to initially focus more on IU than a standard treatment might.
    Adults who are experiencing significant feelings of anxiety and who are seeking treatment from one of two chosen psychological therapy services in Newcastle or Cumbria are eligible to participate. A small number of participants will be invited to take part in the study as this will enable us to look in great detail at how the treatment is working.
    The treatment will take place over approximately 18 weeks and is expected to complete by February 2017.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/NE/0154

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Jun 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion