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Using Implementation Intentions to Prevent Relapse after Psychological Treatment for Depression – the SMArT Intervention

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2018

Mike Lucock ,
Serena Bartys ,
Jade Cupac ,
Jaime Delgadillo ,
Charlotte Denton ,
Sarah Gaines ,
Dean McMillan ,
Andrew Prestwich  and
Rick Stebbings
Mike Lucock*
Affiliation:
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK Centre for Applied Research in Health, University of Huddersfield, UK
Serena Bartys
Affiliation:
Centre for Applied Research in Health, University of Huddersfield, UK
Jade Cupac
Affiliation:
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Jaime Delgadillo
Affiliation:
Clinical Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, UK
Charlotte Denton
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham
Sarah Gaines
Affiliation:
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Dean McMillan
Affiliation:
Department of Health Sciences and Hull York Medical School, University of York, UK
Andrew Prestwich
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Leeds, UK
Rick Stebbings
Affiliation:
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Correspondence to Professor Mike Lucock, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK. E-mail: m.lucock@hud.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background: It is recognized that a significant proportion of people with depression are prone to relapse, even after successful treatment, and that self-management interventions should be developed and provided. There is evidence that implementation intentions (IMPS) can be successfully applied to health-related behaviours but their application to self-management of mental health problems has been limited. Aims: This paper describes the design and initial evaluation of a Self-Management After Therapy (SMArT) intervention, which incorporated IMPS and followed psychological therapy for depression. We sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of SMArT. Method: The SMArT intervention was designed with reference to the MRC guidance on developing and evaluating complex interventions and co-designed with and implemented in a UK Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service. Eleven patients who were in remission following treatment for depression received the SMArT intervention, provided by Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWPs). The evaluation used routine IAPT outcome measures at each session, feedback from patients and PWPs, and analysis of the type of IMPS identified and their fidelity with the model. Six patients provided brief feedback about the intervention to an independent researcher. Results: Feedback from patients and PWPs suggested that the intervention was feasible, acceptable and could potentially help patients to stay well after therapy. Patients confirmed the value of setting their own goals in the form of IMPS, receiving support from PWPs and in some cases from partners, friends and family members. Conclusions: Implementation intentions are a promising approach to support the self-management of depression.

Keywords

depressionself-managementrelapse preventionimplementation intentions
Type
Brief Clinical Report
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 46 , Issue 5 , September 2018 , pp. 626 - 632
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2018 

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References

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