Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy for depression
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of Structural Equation Modelling as a test of Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) model for persistent depression
IRAS ID
250217
Contact name
Karolina Szpak
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 18 days
Research summary
In terms of evidence-based treatment for chronic depression, the professional guidelines recommend Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) or a combination of anti-depressant medication and psychological therapy. The model CBASP is based on argues that childhood adversity can derail typical psychological development (including the development of interpersonal skills) and, as a result, lead to early-onset chronic depression. However, there is not much research investigating an overall model of CBASP and therefore, this study will aim to do so.
The study will use a cross-sectional, quantitative, within-groups design. The recruitment stage will take approximately a year in order to achieve the required sample size. The study will recruit a clinical sample of adults suffering from persistent depression as defined by DSM-V (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) from NHS Lothian Adult Mental Health Teams. The researcher will ask the clinicians to identify individuals on their caseload who suffer from chronic depression and invite them to take part in the study. Participants will be asked to complete five questionnaires, measuring childhood adversity, preoperational thinking, reflective functioning, interpersonal difficulties and symptoms of depression. These questionnaires will refer to different elements of Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) model. Participants will also be asked to answer several demographic questions such as age, gender, years of education, ethnicity and the length and onset of their depression It should take participants no longer than 30 minutes to complete all the questionnaires including the demographic survey. Once a participant completes and returns a battery of the questionnaires, their involvement in the study will be complete. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire data will hopefully increase our understanding of the model and lead to a refined therapeutic intervention. The results of the study are also likely to identify the risk factors for chronic depression and contribute to early intervention.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
18/WS/0231
Date of REC Opinion
14 Dec 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion