A randomised controlled feasibility study of interpersonal art psychotherapy for the treatment of aggression in people with intellectual disabilities in secure care

Hackett, Simon S., Zubala, Ania, Aafjes-van Doorn, Katie, Chadwick, Thomas, Harrison, Toni Leigh, Bourne, Jane, Freeston, Mark, Jahoda, Andrew, Taylor, John L., Ariti, Cono ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7615-0935, McNamara, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7280-1611, Pennington, Lindsay, McColl, Elaine and Kaner, Eileen 2020. A randomised controlled feasibility study of interpersonal art psychotherapy for the treatment of aggression in people with intellectual disabilities in secure care. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 6 (1) , 180. 10.1186/s40814-020-00703-0

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

Background Rates of aggression in inpatient secure care are higher than in other psychiatric inpatient settings. People with intellectual disabilities in secure care require adapted psychological treatments. Interpersonal art psychotherapy incorporates the use of creative art making approaches by participants, thus reducing sole reliance upon verbal interactions during psychotherapy for people who may have communication difficulties. During interpersonal art psychotherapy, participants are individually supported by their therapist to consider how they conduct relationships. This includes the influence and impact of interpersonal issues resulting in repeated patterns of conflict. The key feasibility objectives were to assess recruitment and retention rates, follow-up rates and trial procedures such as randomisation, allocation and identifying any practical or ethical problems. In addition, a preliminary ‘signal’ for the intervention was considered and an indicative sample size calculation completed. The acceptability of a potential third trial arm attentional control condition, mindful colouring-in, was assessed using four single-case design studies and a UK trial capacity survey was conducted. Methods Adult patients with intellectual disabilities in secure care were recruited and randomised to either interpersonal art psychotherapy or delayed treatment in this multi-site study. Outcomes were assessed using weekly observations via the Modified Overt Aggression Scale and a range of self-report measures. Within study reporting processes, qualitative interviews and a survey were completed to inform trial feasibility. Results Recruitment procedures were successful. The target of recruiting 20 participants to the trial from multiple sites was achieved within 8 months of the study opening. All participants recruited to the treatment arm completed interpersonal art psychotherapy. Between-group differences of interpersonal art psychotherapy versus the delayed treatment control showed a ‘signal’ effect-size of .65 for total scores and .93 in the verbal aggression sub-scale. There were no amendments to the published protocol. The assessment of key feasibility objectives were met and the trial procedures were acceptable to all involved in the research. Conclusion This study suggested that a randomised controlled trial of interpersonal art psychotherapy is acceptable and feasible.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Additional Information:	This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Publisher:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	2055-5784
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2021
Date of Acceptance:	15 October 2020
Last Modified:	06 May 2023 07:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/140180

Citation Data

Cited 8 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item