CaTS-App
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acceptability, usability and development of the app-based Card-Sort Task for Self-Harm (CaTS-App) for clinical settings: a real-world pilot study with youth-practitioner dyads
IRAS ID
360016
Contact name
E Townsend
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Self-harm is a growing concern among young people, especially adolescent girls. It is linked to long-term mental health issues and increased suicide risk. Many young people do not seek help, and traditional therapies can be hard to access or engage with. New tools are needed to support better communication and shared understanding between young people and practitioners.
This study tests a new digital tool called the CaTS-App, designed to help young people and practitioners explore the thoughts, feelings, and events surrounding self-harm. It aims to improve shared understanding, assessment and communication about an episode of self-harm in a collaborative clinical relationship.
Both practitioners and young people are participants in this study. Practitioners must be working with young people receiving support for self-harm within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHCFT) or Harmless, a NHCFT NHS specialist service provider. Young people aged 12–24 receiving ongoing support for self-harm may be invited to take part if deemed eligible by their practitioner, based on clinical judgement. They must also be able to consent (or assent with parental consent), read and write in English, and not have clinical or accessibility concerns that would prevent participation.
The study will run at two sites: NHCFT and Harmless. Harmless are commissioned by the ICB in Nottinghamshire as an NHS provider of mental health services. The study uses a single-arm case study design. Eligible young people will use the CaTS-App with a trained practitioner during routine in-person care for up to 12 weeks. Practitioners interested in using the app will have their service opened to recruitment during the study.
The study will explore how acceptable the CaTS-App is to both young people and practitioners, and how well it supports shared understanding, assessment and communication in clinical care.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SW/0140
Date of REC Opinion
15 Dec 2025
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion