Living with spinal cord injury (SCI) can have a negative effect on person’s mental health and desire to participate in activities, so there continues to be a need to explore ways of improving mental health.

However, Jereme Wilroy, Ph.D., associate professor in UAB's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, was part of a collaborative effort with researchers from the UAB Department of Occupational Therapy to study the effects of acceptance commitment therapy through videoconferencing therapy combined with education on people with spinal cord injury in distress.

The pilot study involved 10 people with SCI participating in 8 individual videoconferencing sessions delivered by a licensed therapist. Participants completed a pre-test questionnaire and individual interview, which was repeated after participating.

“We found significant improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, grief, engagement in meaningful activities, and self-compassion,” says Dr. Wilroy. He also highlights that participants also gained more self–awareness. “They were able to improve their focus in their thoughts and emotions, explore perceptions of others, and focus on the present,” explains Wilroy. Other key results were that participants were able to better deal with the many challenges of SCI through improved their coping strategies. Some example of strategies included practicing self-compassion, acceptance, and meditation; and acquiring skills of value-based decision-making and committed action.

“Although this was a pilot study, it gave us enough data to suggest that this method has enough potential for further research,” adds Wilroy. The group has recently secured over a combined $600k in funding from the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to expand this research effort.

The PI of the project was Areum Han, Ph.D., OTR and the research was supported by the Faculty Scholarship and Development Program in the UAB Department of Occupational Therapy and published in Disability and Rehabilitation, Effects of a coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy intervention combined with psychoeducation on distressed individuals living with spinal cord injury: a preliminary mixed-methods study.