Plain English Summary
Background and study aims:
Emotional dysregulation (ED) is where a person is unable to properly regulate their emotional responses. It can take a number of forms, including displaying emotions which are incompatible with context, avoidance of emotions, or an excess of an emotional state such as anger. The role of emotional dysregulation in sexual offending individuals has been highlighted. In recent years, mindfulness (a way of becoming more aware of the present moment) and in turn biofeedback (a program that teaches individuals how to control automatic bodily reactions and functions), have been considered as a treatment for a variety of disorders. Biofeedback is commonly achieved using computer based programmes that provide feedback on particular bodily processes through use of sensors. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of biofeedback in improving emotional regulation in adult sexual offenders with a learning disability.
Who can participate?
Adult men with a learning disability and a history of sexual offending behaviour
What does the study involve?
All participanrts takes part in the biofeedback programme on a one to one basis, in eight sessions over a period of four weeks. The program is delivered using a computer-based programme which uses a sensor attached to the ear lobe to monitor difference in the amount of time between each heartbeat. The programme itself involves a combination of guided breathing exercises accompanied by images. For example, participants match their breathing cycle to images of a butterfly moving its wings. Participants ae encouraged to complete this breathing practice for 10 minutes. Participants are asked to complete a questionnaire – a modified version of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale – eight weeks before treatment, immediately following treatment, and eight weeks after the last treatment session. Participant’s behaviour is also monitored in relation to acts of aggression, and sexually inappropriate behaviours using various scales. These behaviours are monitored from eight weeks before treatment starts through until eight weeks after the last treatment session.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Biofeedback is thought to help people to manage their emotions better, as a result participants may feel calmer following the treatment. Overall there is thought to be no risk of harm occurring to the participants. Participants may feel lightheaded or dizzy when they are asked to focus on their breathing. Participants will be supported by the Chief Investigator whilst they are receiving the treatment.
Where is the study run from?
Private Healthcare Low Secure Learning Disability Unit – Essex (UK)
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2015 to December 2017
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Miss Emma Gray
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Miss Emma Gray
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3279-6309
Contact details
Oaktree Manor
Heath Road
Tendring
CO16 0BX
United Kingdom
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
RG_16-135
Study information
Scientific title
Examining the effectiveness of biofeedback in improving emotional regulation skills in adult sexual offenders with a learning disability - a feasibility study
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of biofeedback in improving emotional regulation in adult sexual offenders with a learning disability (LD).
Ethics approval
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee, 08/03/2017, ref: 16/EE/0501
Study design
Interventional non-randomised study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Emotional regulation in sexual offenders with a learning disability
Intervention
The biofeedback intervention will be delivered to all participants on a 1:1 basis, this will be supervised by the Chief Investigator. The intervention will be delivered on eight occasions over a period of four weeks.
The biofeedback intervention will be delivered using “The Wild Divine” “Relaxing Rhythms”, a biofeedback computer based programme (Wilddivine.com, accessed on 27th April 2016). The Wild Divine utilises a sensor attached to the ear lobe to monitor heart rate variability. Heart rate variability refers to the difference in the amount of time between each heartbeat, with the aim of the biofeedback programme to increase heart rate variability (Wilddivine.com, accessed on 27th April 2016).
The process for delivering the biofeedback intervention will be as follows:
When participants arrive the Wild Divine, Relaxing Rhythms programme will already have been installed on the computer. In addition the IOM Sensor Hardware will already have been connected to the computer. Participants will be seated in front of the computer and asked to attach the sensor to their earlobe. The Chief Investigator will then ensure that the hardware is detecting their heart rate by viewing the indicator lights on the hardware.
Once the sensor is properly attached the Chief Investigator will open the Relaxing Rhythms software programme. The guided training practice event will be selected from step one “Quiet your mind”. The breathing cue visual and breathing cue audio will both be turned on. The breathing cycle will be set to 8 seconds initially, however it may be necessary to adjust this for each participant dependent on their own breathing cycle. Efforts will be made to ensure that the participants are set to a breathing cycle that is comfortable for them.
Participants will be oriented to the butterfly visual, and informed that their breathing cycle should match the moving wings on the butterfly, i.e. breathing out as the wings open, and breathing in and the wings close. They will also be informed of the small chime which sounds on the changing of the breathe cycle, and that they should bring their breathing in line with this sound.
Participants will be encouraged to complete this breathing practice for 10 minutes. Once the breathing practice has started the Chief Investigator will place themselves in the corner of the room, out of sight of the participant, however will remain in the same room throughout and will monitor the wellbeing of the participant throughout the breathing practice.
Upon completion of the 10 minutes the Chief Investigator will close the Relaxing Rhythms programme, and instruct the participant to remove the sensor from their earlobe.
Participants are followed up post-treatment, and eight weeks following the completion of treatment.
Intervention type
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
Emotional regulation will be measured using a modified version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) eight weeks prior to commencing treatment, post-treatment, and eight weeks following the completion of treatment.
Secondary outcome measures
1. Aggression is assessed using The Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) from a review of the clinical notes in the eight weeks prior to commencing treatment, during the treatment period, and in the eight weeks following the completion of treatment
2. Inappropriate sexual behaviours are recorded objectively using the St Andrews Sexual Behaviour Assessment Scale (SASBA) from a review of the clinical notes in the eight weeks prior to commencing treatment, during the treatment period, and in the eight weeks following the completion of treatment
Overall trial start date
01/10/2015
Overall trial end date
30/12/2017
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Adult males aged between 18 years and 65 years
2. Learning disability
3. History of sexual offending behaviour (regardless of whether this has resulted in criminal conviction)
4. Already detained in a private healthcare low secure unit
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Male
Target number of participants
8
Participant exclusion criteria
1. No history of sexual offending behaviour will be excluded from the study
2. No formal diagnosis of a learning disability will be excluded
3. Not already detained in the identified low secure unit
4. Female
5. Younger than 18 or older than 65 years of age
6. Lacking the capacity to consent
Recruitment start date
01/06/2017
Recruitment end date
01/09/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Private Healthcare Low Secure Learning Disability Unit - Essex
Oaktree Manor
Heath Road
Tendring
CO16 0BX
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Other
Funder name
Investigator initiated and funded
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The dataset will not be made available as participants are not being asked to consent to this. The data will be held by the Chief Investigator at the testing site.
Intention to publish date
31/07/2018
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary