ABSTRACT NUMBER: ESOC2026YS87 INCLUDING EXPERTS BY EXPERIENCE AS CO-FACILITATORS OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPY GROUP FOR STROKE SURVIVORS: AN ANALYSIS OF THE IMPACT ON OUTCOMES

Abstract Background and aims Emotional changes after stroke are common and poor mental health can have a significant impact upon recovery outcomes. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a psychological therapy approach which is effective at improving the mental health of stroke survivors when delivered in a group format. An ACT group for stroke survivors was established within a community neurorehabilitation service. A service improvement project involved the introduction of Experts by Experience (EbE; stroke survivors and previous patients) as co-facilitators of the group alongside psychologists. This research aimed to establish whether the introduction of EbE improved patient outcomes. Methods This project was registered and approved as a service evaluation with the NHS trust Research Department. Outcome measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and psychological flexibility (AAQ-II) are routinely collected from patients before and after attending the ACT group. Anonymised outcome measure data was collated from service records of patients who had attended the groups before the introduction of EbE and compared statistically to those who had attended since the introduction of EbE. Results A preliminary analysis comparing data collected from groups run without EbE (n=14) with groups run with EbE (n=11) found no statistically significant difference between the two groups. However, groups with EbE showed a greater degree of reduction in depression and increased psychological flexibility. A power analysis indicated preliminary analyses were significantly underpowered. Results from a reanalysis when a greater sample size has been achieved will be presented. Conflict of interest Jessica Silver: Small research and service evaluation grant received from the Gloucestershire ICB.