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Abstract

Objectives: We developed a web application (PACT app) based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to support mental health for people with Parkinson’s. Here, we assess the app’s acceptability and the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial to evaluate its effectiveness.

Method: This was a two-armed parallel group design with 2:1 allocation to the PACT app or waiting-list control and a single, post-intervention follow-up. Feasibility outcomes included recruitment and retention rate, intervention engagement and satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included measures of anxiety, depression, quality of life, and cost-effectiveness. Treatment effects for secondary outcomes were estimated using linear regression, following the intention-to-treat principle.

Results: Fifty-seven people with Parkinson’s were randomised to 4 weeks of PACT app (n = 38) or waiting-list control (n = 19). Recruitment, retention rate, intervention use, and acceptability met our progression criteria. Intervention effects were in the expected direction for all outcomes and largest for measures of depression (Hedges g = −0.96; 95% CI = −1.47 to −0.46) and committed action (Hedges g = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.38 to 1.35).

Conclusion: Progression criteria were met, and PACT was acceptable to people with Parkinson’s. It has potential efficacy and cost-effectiveness. A future larger trial to fully evaluate efficacy is needed.

Trial registration: ISRCTN65177345 (01/09/2023).

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, dis-tribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. the terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Publisher Keywords:	Parkinson’s; mental health; web application; randomised controlled trial; acceptance and commitment therapy
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Healthcare Services Research & Management
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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