Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40314156›Full record

ArticleBJPsych open2025

Randomised controlled feasibility trial of online group acceptance and commitment therapy for functional cognitive disorder.

Norman Poole, Sarah Cope, Serena Vanzan, Aimee Duffus, Tatiana Williams, Nadia Mantovani, Jared G Smith, Barbara Barrett, Martin Scicluna, Sarah Beardmore and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BJPsych open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Unmet needs in functional neurological disorder related to digital healthcare.Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Norman PooleSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3187-6430
Sarah CopeSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Serena VanzanSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Aimee DuffusSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Tatiana WilliamsSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Nadia MantovaniPopulation Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0352-7444
Jared G SmithPopulation Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6138-136X
Barbara BarrettKing's Health Economics, King's College London, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0270-6256
Martin SciclunaSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Sarah BeardmoreSouth West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
Mark J EdwardsInstitute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Robert HowardDivision of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFunctional cognitive disorder is an increasingly recognised subtype of functional neurological disorder for which treatment options are currently limited. We have developed a brief online group acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based intervention.

aimsTo assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial of this intervention versus treatment as usual (TAU).

methodThe study was a parallel-group, single-blind randomised controlled trial, with participants recruited from cognitive neurology, neuropsychiatry and memory clinics in London. Participants were randomised into two groups: ACT + TAU or TAU alone. Feasibility was assessed on the basis of recruitment and retention rates, the acceptability of the intervention, and signal of efficacy on the primary outcome measure (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II)) score, although the study was not powered to demonstrate this statistically. Outcome measures were collected at baseline and at 2, 4 and 6 months post-intervention, including assessments of quality of life, memory, anxiety, depression and healthcare use.

resultsWe randomised 44 participants, with a participation rate of 51.1% (95% CI 40.8-61.5%); 36% of referred participants declined involvement, but retention was high, with 81.8% of ACT participants attending at least four sessions, and 64.3% of ACT participants reported being 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' compared with 0% in the TAU group. Psychological flexibility as measured using the AAQ-II showed a trend towards modest improvement in the ACT group at 6 months. Other measures (quality of life, mood, memory satisfaction) also demonstrated small to modest positive trends.

conclusionsIt has proven feasible to conduct a randomised controlled trial of ACT versus TAU.

Indexed as

functional cognitive disorderFunctional neurological disorderneuropsychiatrypsychological treatmentsrandomised controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID40314156
PMCPMC12089801

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.