Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study
Abstract Background Recurrent and impairing functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are common in adolescents. Despite a high need for care, empirically supported treatments are lacking for youth. The aim of this uncontrolled pilot study was to assess feasibility and treatment potential of a new interven...
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doaj-b4ca1833a19149c084043772102b09072020-11-25T03:22:48ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2020-09-0120111610.1186/s12888-020-02862-zFeasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot studyKaren Hansen Kallesøe0Andreas Schröder1Rikard K. Wicksell2Tua Preuss3Jens Søndergaard Jensen4Charlotte Ulrikka Rask5Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University HospitalResearch Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska InstitutetResearch Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University HospitalResearch Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University HospitalDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus UniversityAbstract Background Recurrent and impairing functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are common in adolescents. Despite a high need for care, empirically supported treatments are lacking for youth. The aim of this uncontrolled pilot study was to assess feasibility and treatment potential of a new intervention with group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a generic treatment approach for adolescents with multiple FSS. Methods Twenty-one patients received ‘ACT for Health in Adolescents’ (AHEAD) (30 h), specifically developed for adolescents (aged 15–19 years) with moderate to severe FSS. Close relatives attended an information meeting to facilitate support of the patients throughout treatment. Treatment satisfaction was evaluated by means of self-report and relatives’ impressions. Self-reported physical health at 3 months follow-up (FU) after end of treatment was the primary outcome whereas secondary outcomes included symptom burden, limitation due to symptoms, illness worry, emotional distress and physical and emotional symptoms. Treatment targets were assessed by measures on illness behaviour, illness perception and psychological inflexibility. Results Nineteen patients (90.5%) completed the treatment with a high overall attendance rate of 93%. All would recommend the treatment to a friend with similar problems. Close relatives rated it valuable to participate in an information meeting. Patients’ physical health improved significantly from assessment to FU with a clinically relevant mean change of 8.9 points (95% CI [5.4; 12.4]; SRM 0.91 [0.26;1.57]). Improvement was also seen on all secondary outcome measures, from assessment to FU. Maladaptive illness behaviours and perceptions as well as psychological inflexibility showed a significant decline from assessment to FU. Conclusion AHEAD was feasible and potentially efficacious and warrants testing in a larger clinical trial. Trial registration Clinical Trials gov NCT04464447 , registration date July 9th, 2020. Retrospectively registered.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02862-zAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)AdolescentsFunctional somatic syndromesGroup-therapyPsychotherapy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Karen Hansen Kallesøe Andreas Schröder Rikard K. Wicksell Tua Preuss Jens Søndergaard Jensen Charlotte Ulrikka Rask |
spellingShingle |
Karen Hansen Kallesøe Andreas Schröder Rikard K. Wicksell Tua Preuss Jens Søndergaard Jensen Charlotte Ulrikka Rask Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study BMC Psychiatry Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) Adolescents Functional somatic syndromes Group-therapy Psychotherapy |
author_facet |
Karen Hansen Kallesøe Andreas Schröder Rikard K. Wicksell Tua Preuss Jens Søndergaard Jensen Charlotte Ulrikka Rask |
author_sort |
Karen Hansen Kallesøe |
title |
Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study |
title_short |
Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study |
title_full |
Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study |
title_fullStr |
Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (AHEAD) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study |
title_sort |
feasibility of group-based acceptance and commitment therapy for adolescents (ahead) with multiple functional somatic syndromes: a pilot study |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
BMC Psychiatry |
issn |
1471-244X |
publishDate |
2020-09-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Recurrent and impairing functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are common in adolescents. Despite a high need for care, empirically supported treatments are lacking for youth. The aim of this uncontrolled pilot study was to assess feasibility and treatment potential of a new intervention with group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in a generic treatment approach for adolescents with multiple FSS. Methods Twenty-one patients received ‘ACT for Health in Adolescents’ (AHEAD) (30 h), specifically developed for adolescents (aged 15–19 years) with moderate to severe FSS. Close relatives attended an information meeting to facilitate support of the patients throughout treatment. Treatment satisfaction was evaluated by means of self-report and relatives’ impressions. Self-reported physical health at 3 months follow-up (FU) after end of treatment was the primary outcome whereas secondary outcomes included symptom burden, limitation due to symptoms, illness worry, emotional distress and physical and emotional symptoms. Treatment targets were assessed by measures on illness behaviour, illness perception and psychological inflexibility. Results Nineteen patients (90.5%) completed the treatment with a high overall attendance rate of 93%. All would recommend the treatment to a friend with similar problems. Close relatives rated it valuable to participate in an information meeting. Patients’ physical health improved significantly from assessment to FU with a clinically relevant mean change of 8.9 points (95% CI [5.4; 12.4]; SRM 0.91 [0.26;1.57]). Improvement was also seen on all secondary outcome measures, from assessment to FU. Maladaptive illness behaviours and perceptions as well as psychological inflexibility showed a significant decline from assessment to FU. Conclusion AHEAD was feasible and potentially efficacious and warrants testing in a larger clinical trial. Trial registration Clinical Trials gov NCT04464447 , registration date July 9th, 2020. Retrospectively registered. |
topic |
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) Adolescents Functional somatic syndromes Group-therapy Psychotherapy |
url |
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-020-02862-z |
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