Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-based Group Intervention for Parents of Children With a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Conditions
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Interventions
- Behavioral: START programmeBehavioral: Treatment as Usual
- Registration Number
- NCT04298164
- Lead Sponsor
- University College Dublin
- Brief Summary
This study is being conducted to look at whether a group programme designed for parents of children with a diagnosis of Autism is effective. The programme is called The START Programme ©- as it aims to provide a Supportive and Therapeutic environment to help parents gain Acceptance and reach Resolution so that they can Take action to live more consistently with their values. The programme was developed by two psychologists in Longford/Westmeath, Ireland, Dr. Michelle Howard and Kara McDermott in 2013, because they identified a lack of therapeutic support for such parents. The programme draws on research and theory from a branch of therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, as well as some other psychological techniques. Individuals who agree to participate in the research will be assigned at random to the intervention or to a treatment as usual control condition. They will be asked to fill out 4 questionnaires, on 3 different occasions, with a 7 week gap between the first time and second time, and a 3 month gap between the second and third time.
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 56
- Participants must be adults over the age of 18 with the capacity to provide informed consent who are willing to take part in all aspects of the study
- They must have at least 1 child with a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder who is linked in with one of the psychology service sites involved in the study.
- They must not have completed the START programme before, or be concurrently attending another group based parental intervention.
- Individuals who are under the age of 18, or who unable or unwilling to provide informed consent for all aspects of the study will be not included.
- Individuals who are receiving other current group based parental interventions will not be included.
- Couples may not attend the programme together, as outlined by the Psychologists who developed the programme.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Intervention group START programme Group that receives the intervention Control group Treatment as Usual Group that receives treatment as usual
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in psychological flexibility Measured before first session of programme (Week 1), at the final session of the programme (Week 7), and at 3 month follow up (12 Weeks after Week 7) Measured using the Comprehensive assessment of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Processes (CompACT)
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Parent relationship Measured before first session of programme (Week 1), at the final session of the programme (Week 7), and at 3 month follow up (12 Weeks after Week 7) Parent Problem Checklist (PPC)
Mental wellbeing Measured before first session of programme (Week 1), at the final session of the programme (Week 7), and at 3 month follow up (12 Weeks after Week 7) Measured using The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scales (WEMWBS)
Parenting stress Measured before first session of programme (Week 1), at the final session of the programme (Week 7), and at 3 month follow up (12 Weeks after Week 7) Measured using The Autism Parenting Stress Index
Trial Locations
- Locations (2)
HSE Donegal
🇮🇪Donegal, Ireland
HSE Longford/Westmeath
🇮🇪Longford, Ireland