Psychological Treatment of Negative Symptoms
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Treatment of negative symptoms in people diagnosed with schizophrenia: An exploration of key stakeholders' views on treatment gap, acceptable interventions, and recovery.
IRAS ID
179885
Contact name
Phil SMith
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 0 days
Research summary
People diagnosed with schizophrenia typically experience both positive and negative symptoms. Negative symptoms commonly manifest as a lack of motivation, reduced enjoyment, and diminished engagement in everyday activities. Up to 30% of individuals with chronic schizophrenia experience significant levels of negative symptoms. However, there remains a substantial gap in knowledge about effective treatments. Expert by experience perspectives (e.g. the views of service users and carers) may provide vital information about the nature and impact of the experience of negative symptoms and this information could inform the development of acceptable and appropriately targeted treatments. Additionally, this information may provide valuable insight into ways in which new interventions can be incorporated into everyday clinical practice.
Aims
To systematically obtain service user and family/professional carer views on negative symptoms and their treatment. A further aim is to explore perceived obstacles to psychological treatments for negative symptoms being adopted in day-to-day practice.
Method:
A review of the relevant literature has been conducted to ascertain current views about key features of and treatment approaches for negative symptoms. Interview questions have been generated based on this review plus research participants will also be encouraged to provide their own views of treatment needs. The study will use semi-structured individual interviews between an interviewer and service users, their family, and professional carers.
Participants:
Three types of participant will be recruited: 1. People with a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis who exhibit problematic and/or disabling negative symptoms, 2. Family members/Carers of people in group 1; and 3. Professional carers of people in group 1.
Sites: An out-patient clinic in NHS Lanarkshire and an inpatient Psychiatric Rehabilitation service in Glasgow will comprise the recruitment sites.REC name
West of Scotland REC 5
REC reference
16/WS/0043
Date of REC Opinion
2 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion