Working with service-users to develop a mood
as input based intervention for worry
Fergal Jones , Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
& Canterbury Christ Church University
Ruth Chandler, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Graham Davey, University of Sussex
Contents
• Overview of project
• Benefits of collaboration for university
• And for Trust
• Value of service-user involvement
Context
• The evidence base that Graham and his lab
have developed to support a mood-as-input
model of worrying
• There’s room for GAD interventions to be
more effective and efficient
• SPFT made available own account funding
Mood as input theory
• Perseveration determined by interaction
between stop-rules and mood
• Perfectionistic ‘as many as can’ stop-rules +
negative mood = perseveration
• In effect: ‘I must continue to worry until I feel I
have satisfactorily resolved this problem’
Intervention possibilities
• Increased awareness of this process, providing
more choice
• Evaluating helpfulness of stop-rules and
developing more helpful ones
• Postponing thinking about something until
mood lifts
Research Stage 1: Aims
• To gain an initial indication of the viability and
acceptability of the components
• To work with service-users to refine and develop
the components
• If they seem viable, to develop an intervention
(or part of an intervention) to be researched
further
• Therefore: consulting with service-users re these
intervention components
Research Stage 1: Method
• Participants: service-users troubled by worry,
who have already received some intervention
• Design: eight 2-hour focus groups, including
components and feedback
• Individual interviews at end
• Qualitative and single case quantitative analysis
• Recruitment completed -first group in April
Benefits for University
• Access to service-user consultants and
participants
• Trust skilled in service-user consultation
• Access to clinicians
• Clinical relevance
• Access to funding (e.g. RfPB)
Benefits for Trust
• Access to up to date knowledge of evidence and
theory base
• Involvement with cutting edge research
• Access to high quality research skills
• Time and resource; e.g. masters students
• Credibility for funding applications
Value of user involvement
• Likely to improve clinical and service-user
relevance
• Likely to improve viability
• Can strengthen funding applications
• Value of a good fit
• The Trust is building a strong team and process re
involvement.