Mindfulness for Anger and Aggression- people with LD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using Mindfulness for Anger and Aggressive behaviour- with people with Learning Disabilities (UMAA-LD)
IRAS ID
147913
Contact name
Robert Jones
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Bangor University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Approximately 10-20% of adults with learning disabilities (LD) engage in challenging behaviours (aggression, destructiveness, and self-injury), which are often accompanied by feelings of anger. The inability to manage anger can reduce quality of life, and aggression is a strong predictor of out-of-area placements, and a risk variable for abuse. Recent research suggests that mindfulness-based therapies (specifically, Singh's Soles of the Feet meditation: SoF) can help people with LD manage angry emotions, and result in less challenging behaviour. However, the current SoF manual was developed in the United States and was not designed specifically for use in NHS settings. We will develop supplementary material for the United Kingdom (UMAA-SoF protocol), which will differ to the existing SoF manual in that it will include a full description of session by session content, an educational component about anger, aggression and mindfulness and will include a homework CD/audio-file. The UMAA-SoF protocol will be delivered by trained clinicians on an individual basis to 20 adults with LD who have been identified as having problems with anger control. We will measure whether the UMAA-SoF protocol leads to reductions in aggressive behaviour and look at the participant’s quality of life, anxiety, depression, and use of support services (medication, hospital appointments etc.). These will be measured at three time points; (1). Just before the intervention (baseline), (2). Immediately after the 6 session intervention, and (3). Six months after baseline. To gain a richer understanding about how people experienced the UMAA-SoF intervention, we will also interview the participants, their carers, and the therapists who delivered the intervention at the third time point. We will also develop a Mindful Awareness for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Scale (MAIDS). This information will be used to finalise the UMAA-SoF UK protocol and work out if a larger, Randomised Controlled Trial is feasible.
REC name
Wales REC 5
REC reference
15/WA/0169
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2015
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion