An evaluation of the Regaining Confidence after Stroke (RCAS) course

INTERVENTION: Psychological intervention, Delivery of the RCAS course: Participants will be recruited from research sites in Nottingham and Leicester, and will be divided into two groups on the basis of chance. Group A will receive the RCAS course and Group B will receive usual care. The participants will be given several questionnaires before the intervention and after 3 and 6 months to determine the effectiveness of the course and at least 12 participants will be interviewed to obtain their opinions on the therapy. The stroke survivors? carers will be asked to provide similar information. In addition, a sample of sessions will be recorded to check that the course is being delivered correctly. CONDITION: Topic: Stroke Research Network; Subtopic: Primary Care, Rehabilitation; Disease: Community study ; Circulatory System PRIMARY OUTCOME: As of 19/09/2016:; General health, measured by GHQ‐30 questionnaire at baseline, 3 months and 6 months ; ; Initial:; General Health Questionnaire 28; Timepoint(s): Not available SECONDARY OUTCOME: Added 19/09/2016:; Confidence after stroke, assessed using the COPE and Confidence after Stroke Measure (CASM) questionnaire at baseline, 3 months and 6 months INCLUSION CRITERIA: Potential participants will be invited to take part in the study if they: 1. Have a clinical diagnosis of stroke 2. Are less than two years after stroke onset 3. Are resident in the community 4. Have been discharged from other rehabilitation therapies 5. Are not involved in other trials of psychological interventions 6. Give informed consent 7. These participants will be suffering from psychological distress or struggling to adjust to life after stroke 8. Carers will be invited to take part if they either live with or have regular contact with a stroke survivor