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Balance Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Long COVID

Overview

We are investigating the effects of a novel intervention for long COVID and looking for volunteers to take part in our study!

We are looking for people with long COVID to take part in a research study which will explore the effectiveness of a psychological intervention specifically designed for long COVID, called Balance ACT. Balance ACT will target psychological and physical aspects of long COVID and will encourage people to do things that change how their body functions. The term “balance” is used metaphorically and refers to the ability to maintain a balance psychologically and physically, despite external challenges.

What will participation involve?

Participation will include four in-person study visits over 20 weeks, in which participants will complete questionnaires (about mood, quality of life, sleep, functioning, among others), physical tests for muscle strength, fatigue and breathlessness and will be given a smartwatch to wear for 14 weeks. Half of the participants will be randomised to therapy and the other half to treatment as usual. Those in the Balance ACT group will receive 10 sessions with a therapist.

Who can take part?

People aged 18 or older who have a confirmed diagnosis of long COVID.

Will my information be kept confidential?

All information collected in the study will be strictly confidential and will be processed under the terms of UK data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Are you interested in taking part in this study?
Find out more by filling in this form

Planned end date

31 Mar 2025 23:59

Conditions

Psychosis

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Age 18 or older
  2. Long COVID diagnosis as defined by NHS/NICE (i.e., symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID-19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis). A checklist will be used to ensure participants fulfil the diagnostic criteria as per the NICE guidelines
  3. Ability to travel to the research site for the study assessments
  4. Consent to wear a smartwatch throughout the study
  5. Having registered with a General Practitioner (GP) in the UK and consent to provide their details for the study team to contact
  6. fAbility to provide informed consent
  7. Ability to read and write English

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Current diagnosis of an active major mental health disorder likely to interfere with participation
  2. Unstable alcohol / drug dependency
  3. Unstable complications associated with long COVID
  4. Past hospitalisation for COVID-19
  5. Current or recent participation in other treatment intervention studies (less than four weeks after completion)
  6. Currently receiving psychological support or psychotherapy
  7. Implanted medical devices (i.e. Pacemaker ordefibrillator or implanted neurostimulator/infusion device, implanted metal objects (e.g. artificial hip or knee replacement, spinal surgery) cardiac surgery requiring the placement of metal clips, valves or wires
  8. Pregnancy

  9. The exclusion criteria seven and eight refer to magnetic stimulation. These criteria are specified in the health and safety at work directive and our departmental risk assessment for magnetic stimulation.

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