Acquired Brain Injury Including Stroke
Conditions
Brief summary
Emotional difficulties such as anxiety and depression are common after experiencing a brain injury. The compassion focused therapy (or CFT) model proposes the importance of developing skills in being able to self-soothe and be self-compassionate to counteract feelings of distress. Several studies have shown that therapy groups using CFT techniques are helpful, but there has only been one previous study of a CFT group with people with acquired brain injury. This study aims to evaluate a new CFT group for people who have had a brain injury and are currently receiving inpatient neuro-rehabilitation. The group will have six weekly sessions with 4-6 people in each group. The group will be run at the inpatient neuro-rehabilitation unit. As this is a new group that has not been run before, it will be a small study to see whether the group is feasible and acceptable to attendees. The study will evaluate whether the group can be run as planned and how many people attend. The investigators will also interview people who attended the group to find out what they thought of the group. The study also aims to use four questionnaires measuring emotional distress, well-being, self-compassion and quality of life to measure the effect of the group. Group attendees questionnaire scores from before and after the group will be compared to see if there has been any change due to attending the group. This project is being completed as part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at King's College London, and will be recruiting patients from an inpatient neurorehabilitation setting.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALCompassion focused therapy group
6 session compassion focused therapy group for adults with ABI
Sponsors
King's College London
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Has experienced a non-progressive acquired brain injury 2. Is at least 18 years old 3. Has capacity to consent to take part in the group and associated research project 4. Is currently experiencing emotional distress, as identified descriptively by the treating team and indicated by a minimum score of 8 or above (mild symptoms) on the HADS.
Exclusion criteria
1. Has a \[severe\] cognitive impairment to a degree that this is considered by the treating team to prevent their ability to participate in the group despite adaptations. 2. Has a \[severe\] communication impairment to a degree that is considered by the treating team to prevent their ability to participate in or understand the group content despite adaptations. 3. Is currently experiencing a severe mental health disorder or crisis that would impact on their ability to participate in the group.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptability - patient interview feedback | Interview time point after week 6 | Feedback from attendees collected via recorded semi-structured interviews after end of intervention |
| Implementation - group sessions completed | Weeks 1-6 at each weekly group session | Number of group sessions completed out of 6 |
| Implementation - practice sessions completed | Weeks 1-6 at each weekly group session | Number of additional practice sessions completed out of 6 |
| Practicality - delivery of intervention | Weeks 1-6 at each weekly group session | The number of items covered in the session out of the items that were planned in the session guide |
| Acceptability - end of session ratings scores | Weeks 1-6 at each weekly group session | Patient ratings of enjoyment, understanding and helpfulness using 'Session Rating Form' designed for study |
| Demand - patients referred and screened for the group | At screening/enrollment | Number of patients referred and screened |
| Demand - patients recruited | At screening/enrollment | Number of patients recruited to group |
| Demand - attendance | Weeks 1-6 at each weekly group session | Session attendance rate |
| Implementation - patients per group | Weeks 1-6 at each weekly group session | Number of patients per group |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in mental well-being questionnaire score | 2-week Baseline, week 1 (pre-group), week 6 (post-group), 2-week follow-up | Measured using Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) |
| Change in self-compassion questionnaire score | 2-week Baseline, week 1 (pre-group), week 6 (post-group), 2-week follow-up | Measured using Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF) |
| Change in quality of life questionnaire score | 2-week Baseline, week 1 (pre-group), week 6 (post-group), 2-week follow-up | Measured using Quality of Life after Brain Injury Overall Scale (QOLIBRI-OS) |
| Change in emotional distress questionnaire score | 2-week Baseline, week 1 (pre-group), week 6 (post-group), 2-week follow-up | Measured using Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) |
Outcome results
None listed