Background. Depression and anxiety are common and debilitating disorders, and at least one third of patients do not respond to available interventions. Morita Therapy, a Japanese psychological therapy which contrasts with established Western approaches, is currently untested in the UK and may represent a potentially effective alternative approach. Aim. To optimise and investigate the feasibility and acceptability of Morita Therapy as a treatment for depression and anxiety in the UK. Design. Three studies were undertaken in line with the MRC framework (2008) for complex interventions. Study One: scoping and systematic review to describe the extent, range and nature of Morita Therapy research activity reported in English. Study Two: intervention optimisation study, integrating literature synthesis with qualitative research, to develop the UK Morita Therapy outpatient protocol. Study Three: mixed methods feasibility study encompassing a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) and embedded qualitative interviews to prepare for a fully-powered RCT of Morita Therapy versus treatment as usual (TAU). Results. Study One: 66 papers meeting the inclusion criteria highlighted heterogeneity in the implementation of Morita Therapy, and an absence of both UK-based research and relevant unbiased RCTs. Study Two: a potentially deliverable and acceptable therapy protocol and tailored therapist training programme were developed for a UK population. Study Three: 68 participants were recruited and 94% retained at four month follow-up; 70.6% of Morita Therapy participants adhered to the minimum treatment dose, and 66.7% achieved remission in depressive symptoms (compared to 30.0% in TAU). Qualitative and mixed methods findings indicated that Morita Therapy was broadly acceptable to therapists and participants, and highlighted potential moderators of acceptability, treatment adherence and outcomes. Conclusions. Patients in the UK can accept the premise of Morita Therapy and find the approach beneficial. It is feasible to conduct a large-scale UK-based trial of Morita Therapy with minor modifications to the pilot trial protocols.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:739187 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Sugg, Holly Victoria Rose |
| Contributors | Richards, David A. ; Frost, Julia |
| Publisher | University of Exeter |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/10871/32472 |
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