Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older people with GAD v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A feasibility study of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for older people with treatment-resistant generalised anxiety disorder (FACTOID)
IRAS ID
214775
Contact name
Rebecca Gould
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2017/02/20, UCL Data Protection Registration Number
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
BACKGROUND: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), characterised by a tendency to worry, is the most common anxiety disorder in older people. It is associated with distress, difficulty in coping, poor quality of life and increased disability. Medication and talking therapy are usually offered to those experiencing GAD, but many do not respond. Guidance as to how best manage GAD that does not respond to initial treatment (medication and/or conventional talking therapy) is lacking.
AIMS: We will develop a new form of talking therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for older people with treatment-resistant GAD. ACT helps people to learn different ways of coping with distressing thoughts and feelings, and how to take part in more activities that are meaningful to them.
METHODS: In this phase of the project, we will develop an ACT therapy manual and client workbook, tailored to the specific needs of older people, in partnership with 15 service users with treatment-resistant GAD (or until saturation of possible responses to questions is reached i.e. no new themes are identified). Participants will be identified from self-referrals, GPs, talking therapy services and specialist mental health services. Those who are eligible will undergo 2 qualitative individual interviews: 1 before the intervention is developed, which will explore ways of adapting ACT for older people with treatment-resistant GAD; and 1 after the intervention is developed, which will explore the acceptability of our therapy manual and client workbook. This will be assessed in a future uncontrolled feasibility study (in a later phase of the project). We will also conduct a nationwide online survey with service users and clinicians in order to identify what care older people with treatment-resistant GAD usually receive. We will use the results to inform the study design of a future clinical trial in this population (if the project is successful).
REC name
London - Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0704
Date of REC Opinion
9 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion