Here at the PHA UK we’ve partnered with psychology researchers at Cardiff University and Nottingham Trent University to trial a new self-help programme aimed at supporting people with pulmonary hypertension to manage their depression.
We are looking for adults with PH who feel they have low mood or depression to take part in this important study to test the effectiveness of a series of self-help booklets. Once the study is complete, the aim is to then make the programme available to all.
Depression is a term used to describe a range of symptoms or difficult experiences like low mood, feelings of hopelessness, negative thoughts, difficulties with concentration, fatigue and tiredness.
Research has shown that up to 58% of people with PH live with depression, and this programme has been designed specifically for these individuals. It is the first programme of its kind to specifically help people with PH in this way.
First, you will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires to help us understand if the programme is suitable for you. If it is, you will be assigned to one of two groups at random.
One group (known as the ‘intervention group’) will receive the self-help booklets, which are based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – one of the most effective therapies for depression.
If the booklets are found to be helpful, the other group (known as the ‘waitlist’ group) will receive them at a later date. This is so the two groups can be compared, to see if the programme makes a difference.
The intervention group will be asked to work through four booklets over four weeks, in their own time at home.
The booklets include information about PH and depression and how the two can interact, and lots of strategies and techniques to help you better understand and manage with symptoms of depression and low mood.
The booklets have been reviewed by a panel of people living with PH, to ensure they are relevant and as helpful as possible.
Both groups will be asked to complete questionnaires online, for researchers to understand how effective and helpful the programme has been. These will be completed by both groups when you sign up to the study, four weeks later, and again in one month.
Those in the intervention group will also be contacted two weeks into the study to provide feedback on how they are finding the booklets, and again at the end.
If the study shows that the booklets are effective, we will then make them available to participants in the waitlist group. After this, the programme will be made available to all PHA UK members. This is exciting as it would be the first self-help study to provide support for people with pulmonary hypertension and depression.
We’re looking for people who:
You do not have to live in the UK to take part in this study, and you do not need to have a formal diagnosis of depression. If you feel you have depression, or you struggle with low mood, we encourage you to apply.
Unfortunately, the programme is not suitable for people experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide. If you are experiencing these types of thoughts, please contact your GP immediately.
You can apply via this link before 31st January 2024.
You will be asked to complete some questionnaires online, to ensure you are suitable for the study.
If you have any questions, please contact lead researcher Abbie Stark at starkas1@cardiff.ac.uk.
If you are having difficulties with low mood or depression and do not fit the criteria for this study, please email us at support@phauk.org and we will guide you through the support that is available.
Your involvement makes a difference! A similar study, conducted in 2020, set out to test the effectiveness of workbooks for people with PH experiencing worry or anxiety. This resulted in the self-help programme being made available to all, and it has now helped over 120 people with PH enjoy a better quality of life. Find out more about this programme here.
