Graham, CD, Stuart, SR, O’Hara, DJ et al. (1 more author) (2017) Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to Improve Outcomes in Functional Movement Disorders: A Case Study. Clinical Case Studies, 16 (5). pp. 401-416. ISSN 1534-6501
Abstract
Although there are many theories of Functional Movement Disorders (FMD), the causes and prognosis remain unclear, and there are no treatments with high-quality empirical support. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an acceptance-based behaviour therapy which, via altering a process called psychological flexibility, aims to support behaviours that are consistent with a person’s overarching values – even in difficult, uncertain or immutable contexts. It may therefore have pragmatic benefits in the context of FMD. We outline the theoretical basis for ACT and detail a case study of a brief (6 session) intervention for increasing personally meaningful activity with FMD. The participant was in her early twenties and had been diagnosed with functional propriospinal myoclonus. ACT techniques including relational framing, defusion and mindfulness exercises were used to increase psychological flexibility, with the goal of enabling effective functioning within the difficult context created by FMD. Following treatment, the participant showed a reliable change/clinical recovery in psychological flexibility (AAQ-II), FMD symptom interference (WSAS; primary outcome) and mood (CORE-10; secondary outcome). This case study demonstrates an approach that focuses first on improving functioning with FMD, as opposed to eliminating or controlling symptoms.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2017. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Clinical Case Studies. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | acceptance and commitment therapy; cognitive behavioural therapy; relational frame theory; mindfulness; functional neurological disorders; functional movement disorders; functional propriospinal myoclonus; neurology; medically unexplained symptoms; conversion disorders |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (Leeds) > Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 05 Apr 2017 09:41 |
Last Modified: | 16 Jan 2018 11:41 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | SAGE Publications |
Identification Number: | 10.1177/1534650117706544 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:114594 |