Experience of psychiatric services among psychotic patients and cares

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    African Caribbean patients with very late onset schizophrenia like psychosis and their carers:Experiences of Mental Health Services.

  • IRAS ID

    144281

  • Contact name

    M.A.G.P Kumararatne

  • Contact email

    geetha.kumararatne@bsmhft.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    BIRMINGHAM AND SOLIHULL MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION TRUST

  • Research summary

    This research aims to explore experiences of ‘older adult mental health services’ among African-Caribbean service users with very late onset schizophrenia-like psychosis and their carers. To date, the majority of research focus has been on experiences of mental health services among younger African Caribbean people and comparisons of experiences of mental health services between black and white ethnic groups. As well as exploring the experiences of patients, it is increasingly important to explore carers that support them. The literature suggest that carers’ role in supporting patients with mental health problems are intimately linked with the health of the service users.

    A sample of 6-12 patients and carers over the age of 65 years with very late onset schizophrenia-like psychosis will be chosen from Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust Older adult services. Patients will be approached by the BME Lead nurse.The patients will be assessed for mental capacity to consent to participate in the study and consent to their carers to be interviewed. Semi structured interviews using an individual topic guide will be used. Interviews will be about 30 minutes,conducted by chief investigator and will be audio recorded. Data will be anonymised and transcribed before it is analysed.

    Proposed methodology is a qualitative approach using interpretive phenomenological analysis. IPA is particularly suitable for this study as it is inductive and focuses on individual lived experience and interpretation of meaning.

    1.Boydell et al (2012.Satisfaction with inpatient treatment for first episode psychosis among different ethnic groups; A report from the UK AESOP study Int J Soc Psychiatry,58;1:98-105

    2.Mclean et al(2003)African Caribbean interactions with mental health services in the UK:Experiences and expectations of exclusion as reproductive of health inequalities Social Science and medicine.56:3:657-669

    3.Reeves et al (2001), Increased first contact rates for very late onset schizophrenia like psychosis in African and Caribbean-born elders .BJP, 179:172-174.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    13/WM/0442

  • Date of REC Opinion

    17 Dec 2013

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion