Guided Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Self-Help
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Guided Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) self-help for clients on a waiting list for psychological therapy
IRAS ID
215424
Contact name
Kate French
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 29 days
Research summary
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of psychotherapy based on psychological flexibility and value based living which is increasingly being seen in self-help formats. Whilst research indicates that ACT self-help can lead to improvements in increased psychological flexibility and reduced distress, there is currently no research looking in-depth at the underlying processes. Therefore, this research aims to:
1. Adapt an ACT self-help intervention for use within a guided format for individuals awaiting psychological therapy
2. Determine if the intervention is followed by the phases of change that are considered to predict later therapeutic outcome
3. Determine whether ACT processes account for any changes observed
Initially, an ACT self-help book (Get Out of your Mind and into your Life, Hayes & Smith, 2005) will be amended for use within a ten week guided self-help intervention. Each week participants will receive book chapters along with a phone call from an Assistant Psychologist for guidance.
Six participants will be recruited from East Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT). They will have been deemed suitable by a Qualified Clinical Psychologist, to receive the intervention whilst on the waiting list for psychotherapy. The waiting list is currently two years long so participants will not receive treatment delay due to participation. Participants will be briefed on the research aims and consent gained before researcher contact and commencement of research.
The project will follow a multiple baseline single case experimental design. Participants will complete weekly outcome measures that aim to quantify psychological flexibility, wellbeing, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and social adjustment. These measures will be taken 2-4 weeks prior to the intervention and then continue throughout the intervention. Afterwards each participant will have a semi-structured interview to discuss the intervention outcomes. They will then receive a verbal and written debrief.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0508
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion