Whole Life Therapy for Poor Personality Function
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Pilot Study of Whole Life Therapy in Persons with Poor Personality Function
IRAS ID
129877
Contact name
Szilard Hamvas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust
Research summary
The ’Recovery Approach’ to mental health care advocates treating the whole person, identifying their strengths, instilling hope, and helping them to function at an optimal level by allowing them to take responsibility for their life. The Whole Life Manual (WLM), developed by Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire, puts the principles of Recovery into practice in a way that both the patient and the therapist can work on together. The WLM is a document of approximately 250 pages containing instructions and resources to guide the therapist and patient through the programme. It consists of 15 modules to be undertaken over 30-40 weeks, which aim to develop the ability to be more socially included and have better prospects for independence, employment, relationships, value and purpose. An initial study of the WLM in persons with schizophrenia has recently completed fieldwork. The focus of this study is the WLM in persons with poor personality function. Personality disorder is highly prevalent in the general psychiatric population and the management of personality disorder is now considered a core function of secondary care mental health services. The WLM may have greater effects in poor personality function than in schizophrenia because of the lack of neuropsychological deficits. This study will follow a group of patients with poor personality function while they have WLM therapy. Participants will complete the Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS) before, during and after therapy. The primary outcome is the change it SASS score.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/EE/0160
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion