Mechanisms of change in psychological therapies
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Predicting patterns of exacerbation and improvement in psychological therapies
IRAS ID
225649
Contact name
Iona Symington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 23 days
Research summary
It is now agreed upon that psychological therapies are effective for the treatment of several different psychiatric disorders, including depressive and anxiety disorders. However, the ways in which psychological therapies work is less well understood.
This study will examine the relationship between cognitive change and symptom change during psychological therapy for people with symptoms of depressive and anxiety disorders. We expect to find that change in a client’s attitudes and beliefs will be associated with symptom change during psychological therapy, and that changes in cognition will occur before changes in symptoms. We expect this to occur in all clients.
Data will be collected from clients receiving individual psychological therapy in City & Hackney Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service and the 'Let's Talk' IAPT service, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust. Data from 200 participants will be required to examine the relationship between cognitive change and symptom change.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0204
Date of REC Opinion
20 Apr 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion