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A pilot case series of a brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based guided self-help intervention for improving quality of life and mood in muscle disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 June 2017

Christopher D. Graham ,
Trudie Chalder ,
Michael R. Rose ,
Dimitri Gavriloff ,
Lance M. McCracken  and
John Weinman
Christopher D. Graham*
Affiliation:
Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9LJUK Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, St James's Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
Trudie Chalder
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, Denmark Hill, London, UK
Michael R. Rose
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
Dimitri Gavriloff
Affiliation:
Oxford Institute of Clinical Psychology Training, Oxford University, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
Lance M. McCracken
Affiliation:
Department of Health Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Weston Education Centre, Denmark Hill, London, UK
John Weinman
Affiliation:
Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, 5th Floor Franklin Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
*
*Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr Christopher D. Graham, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9LJ, UK (e-mail: c.d.graham@leeds.ac.uk)
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Abstract

This study aimed to demonstrate proof of concept and acceptability of a brief acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based guided self-help intervention for improving quality of life (QoL) and mood for people with muscle disorders (MD). A case-series with an AB design was used to assess changes in primary (QoL) and secondary (depression and anxiety) outcome variables across the period of study. Change in the psychological process targeted by ACT – psychological flexibility – was also investigated, to allow insight into possible treatment mechanisms. Post-intervention, participants also completed a brief free-text evaluation. Relative to pre-intervention scores, four (of seven) participants showed varying degrees of improvement in all primary and secondary outcome variables and were thus considered responders. However, consistent concomitant improvements in psychological flexibility were not apparent. Participants reported a mostly positive experience of the intervention; all appeared to complete the intervention, and no adverse events were reported. Nonetheless, there was evidence that those with compromised concentration or who report good initial QoL and low levels of distress may derive less benefit. Although several methodological weaknesses limit the strength of our conclusions, this ACT-based guided self-help intervention shows encouraging utility for improving QoL and mood in MD.

Keywords

acceptance and commitment therapypsychological flexibilitymoodquality of lifemuscle disordersmuscular dystrophy
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 10 , 2017 , e2
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2017 

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Graham, CD, Gouick, J, Krahé, C, Gillanders, D (2016). A systematic review of the use of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in chronic disease and long-term conditions. Clinical Psychology Review 46, 46–58. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.04.009 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Voet, N, Bleijenberg, G, Hendriks, J, de Groot, I, Padberg, G, van Engelen, B, Geurts, A (2014). Both aerobic exercise and cognitive-behavioral therapy reduce chronic fatigue in FSHD: an RCT. Neurology 83, 1914–1922. doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000001008 Google Scholar

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