Method of Level (MOL) therapy for psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Case Series of Method of Levels (MOL) Therapy for People Experiencing Psychosis
IRAS ID
257300
Contact name
Jadwiga Nazimek
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
People with psychosis have distressing experiences such as hallucinations, unusual beliefs, problems with motivation and thinking. The main treatment for psychosis is pharmacological and consists of antipsychotic medication. However, antipsychotic drugs do not always work and often cause unpleasant side effects. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is the recommended psychological therapy for psychosis. Many people with psychosis find CBT difficult and would benefit from a greater choice of treatments.
Method of Levels (MOL) is a psychological therapy based on the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). PCT suggests that sychological suffering, including psychotic experiences, happens when individual cannot achieve what is important to them. Usually this is because two or goals exist that are incompatible.
MOL aims to help the patient become aware of their goals and to think about the problem in different ways. Developing new perspectives on the problem makes it easier to balance priorities and find solutions. The patient can then make changes, so that their life is more what they want it to be.
Initial work with single cases suggest that MOL is feasible and acceptable for people with psychotic experiences. However, more evidence is needed for MOL as a treatment for psychosis.
Six to eight patients with a diagnosis of non-affective psychosis over the age of 18 who are under the care of secondary mental health services will be recruited to this case series study. The project will have two stages: baseline and treatment. First, participants will complete measures of their symptoms, distress and wellbeing, once a week for up to six times. Then they will be offered MOL therapy sessions, once a week for up to 12 weeks. At the end of the study participants will complete the questionnaires again and will be asked how they found MOL therapy.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0292
Date of REC Opinion
18 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion