A feasibility study of acceptance and commitment therapy for recovery from complex trauma

Megson, Jennifer (2014) A feasibility study of acceptance and commitment therapy for recovery from complex trauma. D Clin Psy thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Objectives: Following the Medical Research Council (MRC, 2008) guidelines relating to feasibility studies of complex interventions, stage 1 of this study was an uncontrolled trial investigating recruitment, acceptability of intervention and potential outcome measures for a novel phase 3 Complex Trauma intervention based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Stage 2 investigated barriers to participation in ‘stage 1’ by conducting interviews with the GG&C Psychological Trauma Service clinicians.

Methods: Stage 1 – Participants: Eleven participants were recruited from the NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Psychological Trauma Service. Nine participants completed baseline assessments. The following measures were used to assess outcome: General Health Questionnaire (12 item version; GHQ-12) and Sense of Coherence – Orientation to Life Questionnaire (13 item version; SoC-13); Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-2nd edition (AAQ-II), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), and Valuing Questionnaire (8 item version; VQ). The Working Alliance Inventory (short-form revised; WAI-SR) was used to measure therapeutic alliance. Procedure: Participants took part in a novel ACT intervention comprising 4 group sessions and 2 individual sessions. Measures were completed pre-intervention, post-group and on completion of the full intervention. Data Analysis: Clinically significant cut-offs and Reliable Change Indexes (RCIs) were used to investigate clinically significant change. Stage 2 – Participants: Seven of the 14 (50%) GG&C Psychological Trauma Service clinicians were recruited to the study. Procedure: Interviews were conducted with the clinicians to address the recruitment difficulties that emerged in stage 1. Data Analysis: Framework Analysis was used to analyse data from the interviews.

Results: Stage 1 – Five (45.5%) of the 11 recruited participants completed the final assessment. One of the 5 (20%) participants showed clinically significant improvement in general mental health. One of 5 (20%) who completed final assessment exhibited clinically significant improvement on levels of cognitive fusion and sense of coherence. Stage 2 – Analysis of the interviews produced 14 ‘robust’ themes, which have provided insight into the recruitment difficulties.

Conclusion: Investigating recruitment was one of the key objectives of this feasibility study. It emerged as a substantial barrier and impacted on the extent to which conclusions can be drawn about the acceptability of the ACT intervention or the assessment measures. It is proposed that a more refined feasibility study is developed that addresses such barriers and that will be better equipped to inform larger-scale pilot trials.

• Item Type: Thesis (D Clin Psy)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Complex trauma, acceptance and commitment therapy, feasibility study.
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Supervisor's Name: White, Dr. Ross
• Date of Award: 2014
• Depositing User: Miss Jennifer Megson
• Unique ID: glathesis:2014-5565
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 13 Nov 2014 10:42
• Last Modified: 02 May 2018 12:14
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/5565