MSFA of first episode psychosis in older adults
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Using Multiple Sequential Functional Analysis (MSFA) to identify potential developmental pathways for first episodes of psychosis in older adults.
IRAS ID
248792
Contact name
Danielle De Boos
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 6 days
Research summary
The proposed study would address the primary research question of “What are the developmental pathways of first episode psychosis for older adults experiencing psychosis for the first time?”. As sub-questions, the study would also seek to establish answers to the following:
• Are there similarities between the individual participants’ pathways?
• What are the functions of psychosis for these individuals?
• Are the implicated developmental factors found in this study consistent with those believed to contribute to the development of first episode psychosis earlier in life?
• What factors specific to older adulthood, if any, seem to influence the development of first episode psychosis in this group?In order to answer these questions I would use Multiple Sequential Functional Analysis (MSFA), which is a case formulation method. It brings together information from three sources: interviews with participants, an interview with a third party informant, and from participants’ medical records. This helps us to better understand the development of complex behaviour. It would take a minimum of approximately 3 weeks to gather this information per participant. Researchers arrange data into a series of 'functional analyses', where contextual antecedents (A), behaviour (B), and consequences (C) are formulated. Each sequence is then seen to influence the 'antecedents' of the next, through learning. One can then hypothesise the developmental factors and associated learning that could have led to something (in this case, psychosis) occurring. A functional analysis approach will help to identify potential contributing factors and mechanisms behind the development of a first episode of psychosis in older adults. This has a benefit over other qualitative methods that offer a descriptive approach.
People eligible for the study would be those over 65 who are experiencing a first episode of psychosis, within Secondary Care Older Adult Mental Health teams in Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. 3-6 people will be recruited.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/0723
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion