EXTEND qualitative study V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Personalised Care for Early Psychosis: the EXTEND study
IRAS ID
313927
Contact name
Carolyn Anne Chew-Graham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
An Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service offers treatment in the community to people with a first episode of psychosis. Psychosis is a severe form of mental illness with hallucinations and delusions. EIP offers care that includes medication, talking therapies, education about psychosis, physical health advice, support for families, and regular contact. Research has shown that EIP is effective, that people prefer it to other forms of treatment.
EIP is meant to be offered for up to three years to every person eligible for care. After this time, people who are well are discharged to their GP, while those with ongoing needs are transferred to the care of a general community mental health team. People can become unwell at this time of change and might benefit from longer treatment with EIP. We also know that some people who are well could possibly have been discharged back to their GP earlier. We want to develop a more tailored approach based on the needs of each individual and understand the health, social, and cost-benefits of this approach.
This qualitative study is part of a larger programme of work. In this study, we will interview people treated by EIP services at the time of their discharge, carers, health care professionals and managers who commission care to understand why and how decisions about care are made. Interviews enable people to tell their stories which will provide the researcher insight into their experiences.
Our entire research will be overseen by a group of EIP service users and carers. This group, led by a service user and carer, will help us to make sure the research is explained clearly; help us create the questions that are important for our interviews; and help us develop, promote and share our research and findings.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
22/NS/0113
Date of REC Opinion
28 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion