Healthcare, UK (Commonwealth Union) – The role of psychological therapy has emerged as a cornerstone in promoting mental resilience and healing. From managing everyday stressors to navigating severe mental health disorders, psychological therapy offers a diverse range of interventions tailored to individual needs, fostering a journey towards emotional growth and fulfillment.
A wide study has found that therapy can make life better for people with MND when it’s given with regular care. MND is a disease that hurts the brain and spine, making muscles weak. This new study looked at a type of therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It helps people accept tough feelings instead of fighting them.
MND is a serious illness with no cure. It makes it hard to move, talk, eat, and breathe. But this study shows that therapy alongside normal care can help improve how people feel.
The study, done by researchers at the University of Sheffield and UCL, involved 191 people from 16 MND Care Centers in the UK. Some got therapy along with regular care, while others only got regular care.
The results had a good outcome. People who got therapy had better quality of life six and nine months later compared to those who didn’t get therapy. The therapy didn’t cause any problems for the patients.
This therapy, ACT, is a mix of different kinds of therapy that focus on accepting tough feelings instead of fighting them. It can help people with MND feel better. The study started in 2019 and looked at things like quality of life, depression, and anxiety in the patients.
Professor Chris McDermott, who is Professor of Translational Neurology at the University of Sheffield, Honorary Consultant Neurologist as well as the joint lead of the trial, says “We desperately need treatments to slow down and stop MND. In a year when several large drug trials have already reported negative results we are reminded what a huge and difficult challenge that is.
“While we work hard for a cure, it is essential we support those living with MND now. The COMMEND study shows that tailored psychological support can have a major impact on the quality of life of those people living with MND.”
Professor Rebecca Gould, who works at UCL and is an expert in psychological therapies, led the study. She indicated that since there’s no cure for this terrible disease, it’s really important to find ways to help people with MND feel better emotionally and live better lives. When people with MND feel unhappy and have a hard time, it can make their situation even worse. They might not live as long, and they might even think about hurting themselves. That’s why it’s so important to offer treatments that they know work.
She also pointed out that the study shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can really help improve the lives of the 5,000 people living with MND in the UK. Pointing out to good evidence that this kind of therapy can make a big difference.
Benjamin Thompson, Study Manager at the Clinical Trials Research Unit of the University of Sheffield, stated that recruiting participants for trials is consistently arduous, especially when dealing with a relatively rare condition like MND. They were happy to have successfully met their recruitment target, making COMMEND the most extensive clinical trial of a psychological therapy designed for individuals with MND.”
He further added, that the achievement enables us to make a substantial contribution to bolstering the evidence advocating for tailored psychological services catered to the specific requirements of those living with MND.”
Chris Bennett, Head of Regional Services and Partnerships at the MND Association, emphasized the critical need for psychological support for individuals with MND. He highlighted that despite this need, such support often remains inaccessible or untimely. Bennett underscored the significance of the COMMEND study’s findings, which demonstrate the effectiveness of psychological interventions, particularly Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), in enhancing quality of life for MND patients. He urged for the integration of such support, including ACT, into standard care packages for those who could benefit. The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Motor Neurone Disease Association, received support from the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility, with five patients recruited in Sheffield as part of the broader UK initiative to enroll 28 patients into the study.
Healthcare, UK (Commonwealth Union) – The role of psychological therapy has emerged as a cornerstone in promoting mental resilience and healing. From managing everyday stressors to navigating severe mental health disorders, psychological therapy offers a diverse range of interventions tailored to individual needs, fostering a journey towards emotional growth and fulfillment.
A wide study has found that therapy can make life better for people with MND when it’s given with regular care. MND is a disease that hurts the brain and spine, making muscles weak. This new study looked at a type of therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). It helps people accept tough feelings instead of fighting them.
MND is a serious illness with no cure. It makes it hard to move, talk, eat, and breathe. But this study shows that therapy alongside normal care can help improve how people feel.
The study, done by researchers at the University of Sheffield and UCL, involved 191 people from 16 MND Care Centers in the UK. Some got therapy along with regular care, while others only got regular care.
The results had a good outcome. People who got therapy had better quality of life six and nine months later compared to those who didn’t get therapy. The therapy didn’t cause any problems for the patients.
This therapy, ACT, is a mix of different kinds of therapy that focus on accepting tough feelings instead of fighting them. It can help people with MND feel better. The study started in 2019 and looked at things like quality of life, depression, and anxiety in the patients.
Professor Chris McDermott, who is Professor of Translational Neurology at the University of Sheffield, Honorary Consultant Neurologist as well as the joint lead of the trial, says “We desperately need treatments to slow down and stop MND. In a year when several large drug trials have already reported negative results we are reminded what a huge and difficult challenge that is.
“While we work hard for a cure, it is essential we support those living with MND now. The COMMEND study shows that tailored psychological support can have a major impact on the quality of life of those people living with MND.”
Professor Rebecca Gould, who works at UCL and is an expert in psychological therapies, led the study. She indicated that since there’s no cure for this terrible disease, it’s really important to find ways to help people with MND feel better emotionally and live better lives. When people with MND feel unhappy and have a hard time, it can make their situation even worse. They might not live as long, and they might even think about hurting themselves. That’s why it’s so important to offer treatments that they know work.
She also pointed out that the study shows that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy can really help improve the lives of the 5,000 people living with MND in the UK. Pointing out to good evidence that this kind of therapy can make a big difference.
Benjamin Thompson, Study Manager at the Clinical Trials Research Unit of the University of Sheffield, stated that recruiting participants for trials is consistently arduous, especially when dealing with a relatively rare condition like MND. They were happy to have successfully met their recruitment target, making COMMEND the most extensive clinical trial of a psychological therapy designed for individuals with MND.”
He further added, that the achievement enables us to make a substantial contribution to bolstering the evidence advocating for tailored psychological services catered to the specific requirements of those living with MND.”
Chris Bennett, Head of Regional Services and Partnerships at the MND Association, emphasized the critical need for psychological support for individuals with MND. He highlighted that despite this need, such support often remains inaccessible or untimely. Bennett underscored the significance of the COMMEND study’s findings, which demonstrate the effectiveness of psychological interventions, particularly Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), in enhancing quality of life for MND patients. He urged for the integration of such support, including ACT, into standard care packages for those who could benefit. The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Motor Neurone Disease Association, received support from the NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility, with five patients recruited in Sheffield as part of the broader UK initiative to enroll 28 patients into the study.
