None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Identifying ways to support individuals with Alopecia Areata (AA) with mental health condition who have low levels of physical activity (PA) to overcome perceived barriers and enhance the perceived value of PA for preventing future relapse are crucial. There is an evidence-base for behavioural activation (BA) for depression, which focuses on supporting individuals to resume activities that have been avoided, but mental health practitioners have no specific training in promoting PA. We aim to evaluate an integrated PA together with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a self-help intervention to enhance mental health among individuals with AA. This study investigates, whether PA combined with ACT has a positive impact on study participants compared to stand-alone PA, ACT and control group, with regard to the self-reported secondary outcomes of: depression, anxiety, stress, and acceptance following treatment and at six-weeks follow up. The approach aims to enhance daily functioning through increased psychological flexibility. Whilst the therapeutic model behind ACT appears well suited to individuals with AA, there is a need for further research to test its effectiveness through intervention, particularly with regards to combining ACT with PA to increase mental health status in individuals with AA. This intervention is a randomised control trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness of PA and ACT for individuals with AA to improve mental health.
Interventions
This study aims to investigate the benefits on acceptance of Alopecia Areata (AA) and the impact of physical activity (PA) participation on mental health. This study will utilise Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and PA to improve daily functioning and mental wellbeing in people with AA. The participants will be asked to complete a six-week programme consisting of ACT/PA, ACT only or PA only.
The ACT is online self-help based on ACT. Participants will have to complete a total of six sess
This study aims to investigate the benefits on acceptance of Alopecia Areata (AA) and the impact of physical activity (PA) participation on mental health. This study will utilise Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and PA to improve daily functioning and mental wellbeing in people with AA. The participants will be asked to complete a six-week programme consisting of ACT/PA, ACT only or PA only. The ACT is online self-help based on ACT. Participants will have to complete a total of six sessions, once per week, with each session lasting one hour in the Qualtrics platform. The sessions will follow the psychological approach Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and are designed to promote psychological flexibility through methods that encourage openness, awareness and engagement and will be facilitated by the online platform Qualtrics. The content of the sessions will be adapted from an ACT treatment manual used in a recently published study and available to members of the Association for Contextual Behavioural Science (ACBS) from the website http://www.contextualscience.org/better_living_with_illness. Participants in the intervention group (PA only and ACT+PA) will receive PA recommendations by means of FitBit activity prompts, emails, phone calls, brochures, newsletter to increase PA participation to achieve their individuals PA goals twice a week. These materials are readily available resources obtained from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). During the intervention, participants will be encouraged to gradually increase their activity level to at least 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), with the goal of walking at least 45 min per day, 6 days per week, and personal goals associated with physical activities that improve strength, resistance, balance, and flexibility. However, participants will be advised that individual physical and mental capabilities should be considered prior to performing any PA. Notification on Fitbit will be disabled and advice on PA will not be given to the control and ACT only group. Fidelity to intervention adherence was measured by periodically administered IPAQ-SF questionnaire. ACT will be done online using the Qualtrics platform. Participants will be allocated into any one of the following groups: (1) PA only; (2) PA and ACT; (3) ACT only; and (4) Control. FitBit will be posted to participants once they agree to participate. Demographic data will be collected online. Acceptance of the condition (AA), behavioural activation and PA levels will be measured using questionnaires online.
Sponsors
RMIT University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Diagnosed with Alopecia Areata by dermatologists or clinicians 2. Aged between 18 to 65 years old 3. Can communicate effectively in the English Language 4. Have daily access to electronic device or computer with Internet access
Exclusion criteria
1. Diagnosed with any conditions which limit their ability to participate in physical activities (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease (CHD) or stroke. 2. Experienced unexplained pains or discomfort in your chest at rest or during physical activity/exercise. 3. Feel faint, dizzy or lose balance during physical activity/exercise. 4. Had an asthma attack requiring immediate medical attention at any time over the last 12 months. 5. Have diabetes (type 1 or 2) have you had trouble controlling your blood sugar (glucose) in the last 3 months. 6. Other conditions that may require special consideration to exercise.
Outcome results
None listed