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Development and Evaluation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Delivered by Psychologists and Non-Psychologists in an NHS Community Adult Mental Health Service: a Preliminary Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2017

Thomas Richardson Open the ORCID record for Thomas Richardson [Opens in a new window] ,
Lorraine Bell ,
Helen Bolderston  and
Sue Clarke
Thomas Richardson*
Affiliation:
Mental Health Recovery Team North, Solent NHS Trust, St Mary's Community Health Campus, Milton Road, Portsmouth PO3 6AD and School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ
Lorraine Bell
Affiliation:
Mental Health Recovery Team North, Solent NHS Trust, St Mary's Community Health Campus, Milton Road, Portsmouth PO3 6AD
Helen Bolderston
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Behaviour Change, Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole House, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB
Sue Clarke
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Behaviour Change, Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Poole House, Fern Barrow, Poole BH12 5BB and Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
*
Correspondence to Dr Thomas Richardson, Mental Health Recovery Team North, Solent NHS Trust, St Mary's Community Health Campus, Milton Road, Portsmouth PO3 6AD, UK. E-mail: thr1g10@soton.ac.uk
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Abstract

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is effective for depression and may be useful for complex transdiagnostic clients. Aims: To conduct a preliminary evaluation of whether ACT is feasible and effective when delivered by psychologists and non-psychologists for complex clients in a National Health Service (NHS) community mental health service for adults. Method: Staff were trained in ACT and conducted one-to-one therapy with clients. Measures on general mental health, depression, fusion and values were given pre-therapy, post-therapy and at 3-month follow-up. Results: Standardized measures showed significant improvements post-therapy for global mental health, depression, cognitive fusion and values post-treatment. These were partially maintained at follow-up and remained after an intent-to-treat analysis. There were no differences in outcomes between psychologists and non-psychologists. Conclusions: ACT may be delivered effectively with limited training for complex cases in secondary care, though further research is needed.

Keywords

ACTdepressionNHSadult mental health
Type
Brief Clinical Reports
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 46 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 121 - 127
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2017 

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