Future-Directed Thinking in People with First Episode Psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Enhancing Future-Directed Thinking in People with First Episode Psychosis Using a Guided Imagery Intervention
IRAS ID
247276
Contact name
Kelsey Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Oxford / Clinical Trials and Research Governance
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 1 days
Research summary
Previous research has found deficits in future directed thinking (FDT) in people experiencing a first episode of psychosis. FDT involves a person thinking of possible events (positive and negative) that might happen to him/her in the future (1 month, 1 year, and 5 years ahead). It has been found that people with first episode psychosis think of fewer events and also rate these events to be less enjoyable and less likely to happen compared with non-patient participants.
This research aims to investigate the nature of these FDT difficulties, their relationship with clinical symptoms and other correlates. It will also examine whether a guided imagery intervention can influence patterns of future directed thinking in people with first episode psychosis, in terms of number events generated and anticipation of pleasure and success.
Forty two people will be recruited from three early intervention in psychosis NHS teams. These people will be provided with an information sheet and have opportunity to ask questions about the project before being asked for informed consent. They will then attend a testing appointment where they will complete several questionnaires assessing their mood, level of psychotic symptoms, thinking and memory, and future-directed thinking. There will be the option of completing some of these measures online in advance of the appointment.
Participants will then be randomly allocated to either a positive or neutral imagery intervention. This involves listening to an audio recording and imagining the situation being described (positive future scenario or neutral everyday object). Participants will then be retested on future-directed thinking immediately afterwards. The testing session will take 2 hours and participants will be debriefed at the end
This research is for submission as part of a doctoral course in clinical psychology and is funded by this training course.
REC name
South Central - Oxford C Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0405
Date of REC Opinion
5 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion