Metacognition, social functioning and early mental health difficulties
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating metacognition and social functioning in young people experiencing early psychological difficulties
IRAS ID
203693
Contact name
Measha Bright
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
12/EE/0311, This study is linked to a previous application.
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study is aimed at exploring how particular thinking processes (metacognition - broadly defined as thinking about thinking) affect social functioning in young people with early mental health and social functioning difficulties. PRODIGY study participants have been selected as a population as the young people recruited into the PRODIGY study have been so because they were experiencing early mental health and social functioning difficulties.
Metacognitions in the carers of young people with early mental health and social functioning problems will be explored, and how these metacognitions affect carers interactions with their loved ones. 20 PRODIGY study participants and 15-20 carers into this study are to be recruited. All participants will be recruited from a Manchester NHS site over 18 months.
All PRODIGY study participants who agreed to be contacted about future research will be approached about this project. Participants who agree to take part will participant in a semi-structured qualitative interview, complete some self-report questionnaires and be asked about current social functioning. Carers will only be approached where permission from the PRODIGY study participant is sought and the carer agrees to be contacted.
The primary measure for this study is the semi-structured qualitative interview. Thematic analysis will be conducted on transcribed interviews. Some quantitative data (self-report questionnaires and a brief semi-structured measure of social functioning) will also be conducted and used to describe the sample.
The aim is to gain a better understanding of the role of metacognition on social functioning in young people experiencing early psychological difficulties and the interactions between carers and young people with these early problems. The outcome of this study could help highlight future targets for intervention in the selected populations, enhancing knowledge in early intervention and reducing more serious mental health and social functioning difficulties in the future.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/YH/0199
Date of REC Opinion
6 May 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion