Group Intervention for Adolescents with Early Onset Psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Group psycho-education intervention for negative symptoms in adolescents with early onset psychosis and their families: pilot acceptability and feasibility study
IRAS ID
362216
Contact name
Gonzalo Salazar de Pablo
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
200663, EDGE ID
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Early onset psychosis (EOP) refers to symptoms of psychosis occurring before the age of 18. Those with EOP experience ‘positive’ symptoms which refer to delusions or hallucinations. They can also experience ‘negative’ symptoms such as loss of motivation or reduced emotional expression. EOP disrupts adolescents familial and social relationships and their day-to-day functioning. Adolescents with EOP are particularly likely to develop ‘negative’ symptoms but, there are few effective treatment options available that target this. One possible way to help adolescents with negative symptoms is through group psycho-educational intervention which aims to provide adolescents and their families with information about psychosis and support them to develop strategies for managing symptoms.
The study aims to understand whether it is feasible to deliver this intervention via Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by recording the of number people that are interested, eligible, consent to and complete or drop out of the intervention. We also aim to find out whether this type of intervention is acceptable to adolescents with EOP and their families through conducting interviews.
We will gather initial information about how effective this intervention is at reducing negative symptoms and improving daily functioning in adolescents with EOP using questionnaires completed before and after the intervention.
Adolescents aged 13 to 18 years, diagnosed with EOP and at least one negative symptom and living at home with their parent or caregiver, are able to take part in this study. Participants attending mental health service across SLaM will be invited to take part. The intervention will run for 10, one hour sessions and there will be separate group sessions for adolescents and their family/caregiver, taking place weekly. The intervention will take place over a three to four month period.
Funded by The Spanish Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AEPNyA).
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/NW/0082
Date of REC Opinion
1 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion