ACT for older people with treatment-resistant Generalised Anxiety Disorder (CONTACT-GAD)
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Participant type
Rewards
Overview
Are you interested in taking part in a research study that aims to reduce anxiety in older people with chronic worry?
The purpose of this trial is to see if a form of talking therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus usual care can reduce anxiety in older people with chronic worry that has not improved after previous treatment compared to usual care alone.
Summary
What is the study about?
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterised by a tendency to worry. It is the most common anxiety disorder in older people. Medication and talking therapy are usually offered as forms of treatment, but many do not find them helpful. When this is the case, we refer to GAD as being ‘treatment resistant’ (TR).
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a form of talking therapy that helps people learn how to live as best a life as they can with chronic worry, by helping them do things that are important and matter to them, alongside any worries or concerns they may have .
It has been found to be helpful in other conditions including depression and chronic pain and may be particularly suited to older people with TR-GAD.
What are you trying to find out?
The purpose of this trial is to see if a form of talking therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus usual care can reduce anxiety in older people with chronic worry that has not improved after previous treatment compared to usual care alone. We also want to see if this therapy is good value for money in comparison to usual care alone.
Who is it for?
If you are aged 60 and over and...
- You are experiencing difficulties with chronic worry
- You are under the care of an Older Adults Community Mental Health Team in GMMH
What does taking part involve?
You would speak with a researcher who would discuss the trial with you and ask you some questions to find out if you are suitable to take part. If you are, you would then be asked for your consent to take part. A computer would choose at random whether you would be offered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus your usual care or your usual care alone.
If offered usual care alone, you would continue with your usual clinical care. If offered Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus your usual care, you would be offered up to 14, 1-hour sessions of therapy, in addition to your usual clinical care. The sessions can take place in person or by video or phone call. You would work with your therapist to develop an understanding of the difficulties you have been experiencing.
You would learn new ways of handling your chronic worry, so that you can do things that are important and matter to you, alongside any worries or concerns you may have. You would be encouraged to try out these new skills at home.
Approximately 6 months after you start the trial (and your therapy sessions are completed if you are allocated to the intervention group), a researcher will go through some questionnaires with you (6-month follow-up). Some of these will be the same questions you were asked at the start of the trial. These can be done in person (at home or in a clinic) or via a video call, telephone, online or post, depending on your preference.
Approximately 6 months later, a researcher will then contact you again to invite you to complete some further questionnaires (12-month follow-up). Some of these will be the same questions you were asked at the start of the trial and at the 6-month follow-up.
Follow-up assessments such as these are an important part of the trial as they allow us to see if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy plus your usual care is helpful in several areas compared to your usual care alone. Each person completing these assessments, regardless of which group they are in, helps us to answer our research question. You will be offered a £20 voucher at your 6-month and 12-month follow-up as a thank you for taking part in the trial.
Why is it important?
You may benefit from taking part in this trial because you may receive a new type of psychological therapy that has been shown to benefit people with other mood disorders such as depression. In the UK, this therapy is not yet widely available to older people with TR-GAD. Although we are hopeful that you will see the same benefits as observed in other people, this may not be the case.
How can I find out more?
You can find out more information about taking part in this study by downloading the key documents at the top of this page.
If you are interested in taking part in this study, or have questions for the research team, click the button below to email the research team:
Meet the researcher
Catherine CrossConsultant Lead Psychologist for Old Adult Psychology Services
My name is Catherine Cross, I am a clinical psychologist who provides clinical leadership to the Later Life Psychology Services in Manchester. I work with older people and am passionate about making sure that people later in life have access to the same chances to take part in clinical research as adults of working age.
Collaborators
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