Systematic development of a complex psychosocial intervention to improve wellbeing and quality of life in Alopecia Areata

Project information

Alopecia UK funds invested: £59,910

When: June 2024 - June 2026

Project type: Psychology

Project lead: Dr Mia Campbell

Research Institute: Centre for Applied Psychological Science, Teesside University 

Conditions studied: Alopecia areata

Funds being used for: Research assistant, patient and public involvement, producing study materials, conference attendance

Research aim: 

To conduct a series of workshops with people who have AA, and other key stakeholders, in order to co-design and co-define the features of an evidence based, theory driven intervention for psychological support.

Justification for the research project:

AA affects life profoundly-from the mundane daily tasks and choices to all important life decisions and directions. People with AA require emotional support, which is not always available to them. Existing research suggests it is possible to achieve quality of life with AA through practicing active coping and fostering acceptance. Qualitative studies suggest that some people with AA organically reach a stage of acceptance of their illness and even experience personal growth from overcoming the adversities associated with AA. 

How will the research be done:

We would like to propose the development of a program (intervention) to psychologically and emotionally support people with AA in living well, according to their unique psychological needs. The project will take place over 24 months. We plan to use a therapeutic approach (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT) that is shown to be effective in enhancing quality of life in other long-term conditions. This approach considers that one size cannot fit all when psychological impact is so individual. It allows for the possibility of tailoring and targeting psychological advice to every program recipient.

First, we will conduct a review of literature on the lived experience of people with alopecia areata. Then, we will conduct a series of workshops with people with AA and other key stakeholders, in which the features of a programme will be co-produced and co-defined. In these workshops we will discuss how best to address the psychological needs identified in the literature, but also how to include other necessary intervention building blocks in a way that is acceptable to people with AA. The program will sit within positive psychology - a sub-discipline of psychology which is about supporting optimal human functioning and building wellbeing, quality of life, happiness and fulfilment, as opposed to treating people’s psychological issues.

Who is leading the project:

Dr Campbell is an early-career researcher at Teesside Univesrity, with a background in health psychology, participatory research, intervention development and evaluation, digital health aids and long-term conditions. She has led to or contributed to the running of projects on development of interventions for weight management, the self-management of Sjogren’s Syndrome, self-management of Long Covid fatigue, and self-management of neurological conditions. She has secured funding from UKRI’s Closing the Gap to conduct patient and public involvement sessions with women with serious mental illness on co-producing a bid about the relationship to food in this population. She has contributed to the development of two mobile phone apps for illness self-management. 

Progress update (shared September 2025): 

This project explores how people with Alopecia Areata (AA) experience life and what support they need. So far, the team is on track with their original plan. They’ve completed a major review of existing research, which highlighted key challenges faced by people with AA, such as social exclusion, emotional distress, and poor healthcare experiences. These findings are helping shape the next phase of the project. The team has run nine out of ten planned workshops with people who have AA, alongside interviews with professionals like dermatologists and counsellors. Each workshop links a theme from the research with ideas from Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), such as coping with difficult emotions and making choices based on personal values. These sessions help co-design a support programme tailored to real needs. Three research interns have contributed to the project (two funded and one in a voluntary capacity). A public involvement panel (PPI) has also guided the research, offering valuable feedback and helping shape future plans. The team plans to publish their findings in academic journals and present at conferences. They also aim to develop a formal intervention protocol based on the workshops. Future goals include applying for funding to test the intervention and conducting a national survey of hairdressers to explore their role in supporting people with AA. Collaborations with other researchers and charities are underway to ensure the work has lasting impact.