Using ERP and ACT to increase teen psychological flexibility

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Using ERP and ACT to increase teen psychological flexibility and increase parental well - being as early intervention within an autism service

• IRAS ID

  317995

• Contact name

  Louise McHugh

• Contact email

  louise.mchugh@ucd.ie

• Sponsor organisation

  University College Dublin

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A, N/A

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 7 months, 16 days

• Research summary

  The proposed study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an anxiety protocol developed using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) as early intervention on young people aged 14 - 16 years old. The research will evaluate if the anxiety protocol can increase teenage psychological flexibility in the presence of anxiety and reduce parent/caregivers stress while the families await the young persons' autism assessment.
  The research and therapeutic intervention will use a single case study design, SCED. The study will involve the young person to take part in 1 one hour zoom sessions completed in a group format for 6 weeks. A total of 6 online sessions will be completed by the young people. 9 young people will be recruited from the Children and Young people’s Autism service to participate within the study. The 9 young people will be randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups. 3 participants per group have been chosen as it in within the recommended number of participants per group within a single case design study.

  Part B of this study intends to complete a service evaluation of the early intervention service within the C and YP's Autism service. The researcher wishes to capture the opinions/perspectives of 20 families that are accessing the EIS service at present. The EIS is already capturing opinions of parents through short questions from online surveys.
  The aim of study B is to capture caregivers' opinions of the impact of experiencing a service that uses neuroaffirming language throughout their journey, i.e. from point of referral into the service to the final stage of their journey which is completing their child assessment.

• REC name

  HSC REC B

• REC reference

  23/NI/0003

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Feb 2023

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion