SCI-FACT: The Effectiveness of Focused ACT for SCI Patients

University of Lincoln

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Spinal Cord Injury

Treatments: Behavioral: Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07167290

25005

Details and patient eligibility

About

Research has found that patients with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) suffer with longstanding mental health difficulties, likely due to the impact of the lifelong physical and health problems that come with their injury. Therefore, it is important to make sure that there is effective psychological support available to them. Unfortunately, research shows that the most commonly used therapy approach, CBT, has very inconsistent evidence regarding its effectiveness for SCI patients. It has also been found that providing support shortly after the injury can be helpful for patients in the long term. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate whether an alternative therapy approach, called Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (FACT), can be effectively delivered to SCI patients shortly after their injury, whilst they are recovering in hospital.

To answer this question, a single case experimental design (SCED) series will be used in which participants will regularly complete a number of questionnaires asking about: symptoms relating to their mental health; quality of life; how they are adjusting to their injury; and how they approach coping with difficulties they face, before receiving FACT and for a period of time afterwards. This will provide quantitative information regarding the effect of the intervention. At a one month follow up, these questionnaires will be repeated, and participants will be interviewed about their experiences of the intervention to understand whether there are any issues that need to be considered when using this therapy for SCI patients in hospitals. Using a SCED series design will require us to recruit at least 3 participants.

The information will be analysed to conclude whether it is feasible to use this therapy in this way, and whether it is effective at improving the mental health and quality of life of SCI patients.

Enrollment: 8 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 16+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Have a diagnosis of a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
• Be an inpatient receiving MDT rehabilitation for SCI
• Be able to understand and communicate in English sufficiently to allow for engagement with the intervention, including with the use of reasonable adjustment such as an interpreter, as provided by their usual care team
• Have access to an internet enabled device

Exclusion criteria

• Those with a cognitive or physical impairment that would prevent their ability to engage with the intervention

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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8 participants in 1 patient group

Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

All participants will be in this arm and will receive a focused acceptance and commitment therapy intervention. This will be delivered over 1-3 sessions and be based on the facilitators handbook that will be provided to clinicians.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy