A mixed methods feasibility study of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy with older people with mental health difficulties

BF Psychology

Dewey, Elizabeth ; McLeod, Hamish

University:University of Glasgow

Department:Institute of Health and Wellbeing

关键词: Acceptance and commitment therapy, older adults, feasibility study.;   

Others  :  http://theses.gla.ac.uk/30802/1/2018DeweyDClinPsy.pdf

来源: University of Glasgow

【 摘 要 】

Background: CBT has mixed findings for older people with mental health difficulties and has been described as no more efficacious than relaxation training for anxiety. Due to the types of difficulties associated with old age that cannot be changed, such as chronic health conditionsandexperiencesofbereavementandretirement,amoreacceptance-based approach,suchasAcceptanceandCommitmentTherapy(ACT)couldbemoresuitable; however, there are few clinical trials with ACT and older people. Objectives: Thisfeasibilitystudyusedmixedmethodstoexplorethe acceptabilityand feasibility of delivering ACT groups to inpatient and outpatient older people. Method/Results: 14 participants were recruited, nine of these completed the group (defined asattendingfourofsixsessions)andeightwereinterviewed.Resultssuggestedthat12 weeks after the last session, completers’ anxiety and cognitive fusion scores significantly decreased. Interviews suggested that ACT was acceptable to participants. Conclusions: ACT is both a feasible andacceptable transdiagnostic intervention for older people in an outpatient setting. Preliminary quantitative analysis suggested the intervention reduced anxiety andcognitivefusion;however,this shouldbemeasuredinfuture interventionstudieswithhigherparticipantnumbers. Qualitativeanalysissuggested older people engaged with ACT becauseofthefocusonvisualmaterialand that itseemedto increasetheirperspectivetakingandself-efficacy.Thelatterneedstobeexplored quantitatively.