Investigating Drop Attacks

• Drop attack diary[ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]
  Participants will be asked to write an account of any IDAs. They will be shown an example diary and will also be given a prompt sheet, asking them to recall any triggers, feelings, physical arousal, thoughts and behaviour both directly before and after the episode. This diary will be completed by participants as close to the episode as possible

The aim of this project is to better understand the experiences of people who have idiopathic drop attacks. These falls have no identified medical cause but can cause people injuries such as bruising, facial injuries and, in some cases, broken bones. It can also make them worry about having more falls, and the pain and embarrassment this would cause, and stop them from going out. There has been very little research in this area and there are currently no treatments. In this study, ten people who experience idiopathic drop attacks will be interviewed at an outpatient clinic to understand more about them and the falls. They will be asked in particular about the period of time around when they started having the falls and whether there are aware of any triggers. Participants will also be asked to write accounts of these drop attacks, after they have happened, for a period of eight weeks. They will be asked to describe what they were thinking and feeling, and how they felt in themselves before and after the fall. This information will allow the researcher to look at common experiences that people who experience these falls have. This understanding could help to identify whether a psychological approach to treatment could help individuals to manage and cope with this condition.

• Other: Semi-structured interview
  One-hour interview with researcher
• Other: Drop attack diary
  Diary of any drop attacks experienced within an 8 week period

• : All participants
  Semi-structured interview and drop attack diary