Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS
Introduction Depression and anxiety are common in dementia, with a devastating impact. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based psychological therapies for this clinical group. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT), a talking therapy which addresses feelings of shame and stigma, has shown benefits...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e093249.full |
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| author | Aimee Spector Lisa Williams Rachel Evans Martin Knapp Catherine Henderson Joshua Stott Melissa Melville Catriona Craig Syd Hiskey Yvette Kusel Keith Oliver Lindsay Royan |
| author_facet | Aimee Spector Lisa Williams Rachel Evans Martin Knapp Catherine Henderson Joshua Stott Melissa Melville Catriona Craig Syd Hiskey Yvette Kusel Keith Oliver Lindsay Royan |
| author_sort | Aimee Spector |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Depression and anxiety are common in dementia, with a devastating impact. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based psychological therapies for this clinical group. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT), a talking therapy which addresses feelings of shame and stigma, has shown benefits in other clinical populations. This study is a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) of group CFT for people with dementia and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, to determine if a future definitive RCT is feasible.Methods and analysis 50 people with mild-to-moderate dementia and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression will be randomised to either the intervention arm (12 sessions of group CFT plus treatment as usual (TAU)) or the control arm (TAU). Primary outcome measures include the feasibility of conducting an RCT in terms of recruitment, acceptability, suitability of secondary outcome measures and fidelity. Blind assessments will be conducted at baseline, approximately 16 weeks and 6 months follow-up, to collect data on depression, anxiety, quality of life, quality of the carer–patient relationship, cognition, self-compassion and carer burden. Qualitative interviews will be used to gather participant, carer/supporter and clinician perspectives on the value, acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the London Riverside REC (Ref: 23/LO/0535) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) ethical approval process through the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS ID: 327086). We plan to publish the results in open-access peer-reviewed journals, present data at conferences and provide feedback to the study participants, sponsors and funders.Trial registration number ISRCTN20868432. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7adecce4b0aa4faaa842ce584c50c0ac |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-7adecce4b0aa4faaa842ce584c50c0ac2025-08-20T01:56:52ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552024-12-01141210.1136/bmjopen-2024-093249Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHSAimee Spector0Lisa Williams1Rachel Evans2Martin Knapp3Catherine Henderson4Joshua Stott5Melissa Melville6Catriona Craig7Syd Hiskey8Yvette Kusel9Keith Oliver10Lindsay Royan11Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, UCL, London, UKSchool of Nursing, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand2 Bangor University, Bangor, UKCare Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC), London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK2Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London, UKAdapt Lab, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UKDepartment of Clinical Health Psychology, University College London, London, UKBuckinghamshire`s Older People`s Psychological Services, Saffron House, Easton Street, High Wycombe, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Buckinghamshire, UKPrivate Practice, The Oaks Hospital, Colchester, UKKent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, Thanet Older Adult Psychology, The Beacon, Manston Road, Ramsgate, UKAlzheimer`s Society Ambassador, London, UKClinical Health Psychology Services, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UKIntroduction Depression and anxiety are common in dementia, with a devastating impact. However, there remains a lack of evidence-based psychological therapies for this clinical group. Compassion-focused therapy (CFT), a talking therapy which addresses feelings of shame and stigma, has shown benefits in other clinical populations. This study is a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial (RCT) of group CFT for people with dementia and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, to determine if a future definitive RCT is feasible.Methods and analysis 50 people with mild-to-moderate dementia and symptoms of anxiety and/or depression will be randomised to either the intervention arm (12 sessions of group CFT plus treatment as usual (TAU)) or the control arm (TAU). Primary outcome measures include the feasibility of conducting an RCT in terms of recruitment, acceptability, suitability of secondary outcome measures and fidelity. Blind assessments will be conducted at baseline, approximately 16 weeks and 6 months follow-up, to collect data on depression, anxiety, quality of life, quality of the carer–patient relationship, cognition, self-compassion and carer burden. Qualitative interviews will be used to gather participant, carer/supporter and clinician perspectives on the value, acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the London Riverside REC (Ref: 23/LO/0535) and the Health Research Authority (HRA) ethical approval process through the Integrated Research Application System (IRAS ID: 327086). We plan to publish the results in open-access peer-reviewed journals, present data at conferences and provide feedback to the study participants, sponsors and funders.Trial registration number ISRCTN20868432.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e093249.full |
| spellingShingle | Aimee Spector Lisa Williams Rachel Evans Martin Knapp Catherine Henderson Joshua Stott Melissa Melville Catriona Craig Syd Hiskey Yvette Kusel Keith Oliver Lindsay Royan Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS BMJ Open |
| title | Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS |
| title_full | Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS |
| title_fullStr | Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS |
| title_full_unstemmed | Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS |
| title_short | Being kind to ourselves: group compassion-focused therapy (CFT) versus treatment as usual (TAU) to improve depression and anxiety in dementia – a protocol for a mixed-methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the NHS |
| title_sort | being kind to ourselves group compassion focused therapy cft versus treatment as usual tau to improve depression and anxiety in dementia a protocol for a mixed methods feasibility randomised controlled trial within the nhs |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/14/12/e093249.full |
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