Older People's experience of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Older People's experience of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) within a Primary Care setting.
IRAS ID
211477
Contact name
Daniel Salter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
This study is aiming to gain an in-depth understanding of how older adults experience Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT) within a primary care setting. For the purposes of definition, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO, 2016), an Older Adult is someone over the age of 60.
We are living longer and experiencing better health so it is reasonable to expect that Psychological Therapists within primary care settings will see an increasingly ageing population in their clinics. As they such should have the clinical skills to address the specific needs of this group.
CBT is a recommended treatment for many psychological problems in primary care and research informs us that older adults are benefitting from CBT. However, compared to younger populations, we do not know how they experience CBT. As this group can be viewed as complex, qualitative research looking at the experience of patients may provide new insights which could further inform future treatment strategies. This is also in line with Government policy, which recognises the value of patient involvement in decision making (DOH, 1999).
This study will also address criticisms of previous research where participants have been younger (in their 60’s) and therefore, not been representative of a group which can span 4 decades. The study will therefore focus on the experience of people between the ages of 70 and 80.
The timing of this study is particularly relevant as CBT therapists delivering treatment in primary care have undertaken training specifically aimed at the needs of this group. We are now a particularly good position to examine the experience of this group as their treatment has been delivered by CBT therapists who have been taught on a CBT programme which includes teaching CBT interventions specifically for this older adults.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0449
Date of REC Opinion
10 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion