Recovery Enhancement From Traumatic Brain Injury Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - a Pilot Study.

Summary

Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) feasible and acceptable for adults with severe Traumatic Brain Injury (sTBI) in inpatient services? sTBI is associated with depression, anxiety and low self awareness. A key factor in recovery is adjustment to the effects of injury. Psychological intervention may facilitate this change; however what works is unclear. ACT seeks to improve psychological flexibility; the ability to be present with difficult thoughts and emotions, rather than fighting them, and to accept ourselves as we are, not what we believe we should be. Current research is limited, but what is published suggests it may be useful for this group.

Due to the limited research this pilot study aims to conduct preliminary analysis on the acceptability and feasibility of ACT for people with sTBI whilst also examining the suitability of the study protocol in order to make recommendations for future studies. Clients and staff from three Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT) centres will be recruited, one of which will serve as the intervention centre.

Clients in the intervention group will be asked to complete questionnaires a week before and after participation in the 6 week ACT programme. Clients in the comparison group will be asked to complete questionnaires a week before and after receiving 6 weeks of treatment as usual (TAU). The treatment group will also receive TAU. All participants will be invited to participate in a focus group at the end of this 8 week period to discuss their involvement in the study.

Staff will be asked to complete a parallel version of one of the client questionnaires within a similar timeframe. In addition staff at the intervention centre will be invited to attend a focus group and complete an additional questionnaire after the eight week period.

Conditions

• Brain Injuries, Traumatic

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

A psychotherapeutic intervention that aims to enhance individuals' willingness to have difficult experiences but persist with behaviours that reflect what is important to them.

BEHAVIORAL

Treatment as Usual

A client-centred goal planning system linked to community reintegration and based on a holistic rehabilitation model including counselling, medical management, cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Glasgow

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Hamish McLeod, PhD CPsychol · University of Glasgow

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-01-31

Primary Completion

2015-09-30

Completion

2015-09-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations