A randomised controlled study to assess the emotional needs and efficacy of a service to meet identified emotional needs of individuals with macular disease

INTERVENTION: All patients (both intervention and control groups) will have current standard care plus an initial assessment via completion of questionnaires and an interview administered via the psychology service. Each of the participants in the intervention group will be allocated to a volunteer who also has a macular disease. The participants will then receive a telephone call from the volunteers they are assigned to, inviting them to attend a 'newly diagnosed' group meeting run by volunteers with macular disease. Key activities of the newly diagnosed group: The group aims to: 1. Provide information: 1.1. Answer questions about macular disease from volunteers' own experiences 1.2. Distribute information (leaflets, audio tapes, etc.,) regarding macular disease, the low vision clinic, support services, benefits, etc., 1.3. Describe, invite to and answer questions about the Macular Disease Support Group 2. Screen individuals for evidence of unmet needs: 2.1. Those who are in low mood, extremely anxious 2.2. Those who need but are not obtaining available social service support 2.3. Those not accessing appropriate medical services, e.g., low vision clinic 3. Provide a link between newly diagnosed individuals and the professional and voluntary services: 3.1. Relay questions that they could not answer to the ophthalmologist, social services, clinical psychology, etc., as relevant and ensure that the answer is fed back to the questioner 3.2. Relay details of those requiring additional support to either the ophthalmology service, social services or clinical health psychology service as appropriate CONDITION: Age related macular disease ; Eye Diseases ; Age related macular disease PRIMARY OUTCOME: Psychological pathology, measured at baseline, 4 and 12 months: ; 1. Psychiatric status, assessed by the 28‐item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28); 2. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); 3. Risk of deliberate self‐harm, assessed by Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) SECONDARY OUTCOME: The following secondary outcomes will be measured at baseline, 4 and 12 months: ; 1. Quality of Life, assessed by the Macular Disease‐dependent Quality of Life (MacDQoL) scale; 2. Adjustment, assessed by the Impact of Events Scale (IES); 3. Coping strategies, assessed by the COPE questionnaire ; 4. Social support, assessed by the Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ); 5. Knowledge, support and satisfaction questionnaire INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Patients who are experiencing sight impairment through Age related Macular Disease (AMD) that requires initial registration as sight impaired 2. Voluntary informed consent given