Mental health intervention for transdiagnostic groups in the community
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial, examining a transdiagnostic DBT-informed skills group intervention delivered by Protocolised Based Intervention Facilitators (P-BIFS) for adults in community mental health settings.
IRAS ID
307316
Contact name
Suzanne Jolley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 9 months, 31 days
Research summary
We propose to evaluate a new protocol-based intervention that is informed by Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), known as a DBT-informed intervention, delivered in routine mental health settings within South London and Maudsley NHS foundation trust. The intervention is delivered to a group of transdiagnostic service users with a severe mental illness (SMI). It is delivered by a pre-professional workforce who will be referred to as Protocol-Based Intervention Facilitators (P-BIFs). Successful delivery by a less expert workforce has potential to increase routine implementation, compared to delivery by expert staff, where costs of both salary and training are higher.
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a type of psychological treatment recommended for people with a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD; National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence [NICE], 2009). Individuals with a diagnosis of EUPD commonly experience difficulties with managing and responding to their emotions. This is known as emotion dysregulation. Difficulties with emotion dysregulation are thought to play a role in many mental health difficulties. The evidence base for using interventions that are informed by DBT, known of as DBT-informed interventions with other mental health diagnoses, is emerging.
The current research aims to investigate whether it is possible (feasible) to conduct a randomised control trial evaluating the transdiagnostic DBT-informed skills group for individuals representative of SMI presentations seen within community mental health settings. The study will also examine whether it is possible for pre-professional staff to deliver the manualised group intervention.
Service user participants will be randomised to either a 10-week DBT-informed intervention delivered by the P-BIFs, or a waitlist. Those on the waitlist will access the intervention once their involvement in the study has ended. The study will last for up to 1 year. The maximum duration to complete trial participation from consent to completion will be 18 weeks.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0444
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion