Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Trauma in Older People V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) also have experience of trauma? A Feasibility and Proof of Concept study
IRAS ID
319289
Contact name
Kerrianne Devlin
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cumbria Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS foundation trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 9 days
Research summary
A growing body of research has supported a link between early trauma and cognitive impairment. Anecdotally, this has been observed in clinical practice, however the extent to which older people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) have experienced trauma in their lifetime remains unknown. Currently we do not know what other features might be involved in this subgroup of people that might better inform how we recognise and meet the needs of this specific client group.
This exploratory study will follow up 20 older adult clients who have been referred to the Northumberland Memory Service and received a diagnosis of MCI. These clients will have information detailing cognitive functioning across several domains and we will explore the feasibility and acceptability of obtaining a more detailed investigation of lifetime trauma. We will systematically describe the characteristics and lifetime trauma profile of this subgroup and administer standardised measures of anxiety/depression, dissociation and emotion regulation. A semi structured interview will establish the acceptability and experience of gathering information about areas not normally assessed as part of a memory assessment. Feasibility will be examined by gathering the number of people who were approached, the number of people who initially made contact, the number of people who consented and the number of people who completed (of the total number identified).
The findings will help to inform how we ask older adults questions about trauma, while managing the challenges and ethical dilemma of asking people who have come into NHS services for a memory assessment about experiences that they may have found traumatising. This will help to inform a better understanding of the needs of this client group and what services need to consider in being trauma informed, particularly when the reason for involvement in service is not obviously trauma related.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0111
Date of REC Opinion
10 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion