Kishita, N., Gould, R. L., Farquhar, M., Contreras, M., Van Hout, E., Losada, A., Cabrera, I., Hornberger, M., Richmond, E., & McCracken, L. M. (2021). Internet-delivered guided self-help acceptance and commitment therapy for family carers of people with dementia (iACT4CARERS): a feasibility study, Aging & Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2021.1985966
Objectives: The feasibility of research into internet-delivered guided self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for family carers of people with dementia is not known. This study assessed this in an uncontrolled feasibility study.
Method: Family carers of people with dementia with mild to moderate anxiety or depression were recruited from primary and secondary healthcare services in the UK. Participants were offered eight, guided, self-help online ACT sessions adapted for the needs of family carers of people with dementia with optional online peer support groups. Pre-defined primary indicators of success included recruit- ment of 30 eligible carers over 6 months and ≥70% completing at least two online sessions.
Results: Thirty-three participants (110% of the target sample) were recruited over 6 months and 30 participants (91%) completed two or more sessions, and thus both indicators of success were met. Further, 70% of participants completed seven or all eight sessions, and 27% of participants were lost to follow-up, but none of the reasons for early withdrawal were related to the intervention.
Conclusion: This study supports the feasibility, including recruitment and treatment completion. A full-scale trial to assess the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the intervention including its long-term effects is warranted.