Psychosis and Urban Living Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring how individuals recovering from a first episode of psychosis relate to and experience their urban neighbourhoods: a qualitative study.
IRAS ID
335027
Contact name
Mark Batterham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 26 days
Research summary
Psychosis is a serious mental health condition. People with psychosis often become withdrawn and feel cut-off from others and the world around them.
Most people with psychosis in England are treated in the community and live in urban areas. Recent research found that many people with psychosis find city centres stressful and avoid these places as a result. Less is known about how individuals with psychosis experience their local urban area.
Research has also shown that individuals experiencing mental ill health can use the urban environment to aid their recovery by providing opportunities for them to connect with people and places. However, treatment plans for psychosis do not generally consider how urban areas could be used to support recovery.
This study will improve our understanding of how individuals recovering from a first episode of psychosis use, experience and relate to their local urban area. The study will explore recovery-oriented practices and identify any barriers to such practices. The findings will inform the development of an intervention to strengthen recovery from a first episode of psychosis. The research focuses on this service user group because intervening early in the course of a psychotic illness results in better treatment outcomes.
Eligible participants would be young people and adults (aged 16 years or above) under the care of local Early Intervention in Psychosis services who are recovering from a first episode of psychosis and live in an urban area.
Participants will be interviewed about their local area and how it supports or hampers their recovery. They will be invited to take photos and sketch maps of their local area, and to lead the researcher on a neighbourhood walk.
The study has been designed with people who have experience of psychosis. Individuals who care for a family member with psychosis have also been consulted.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/SW/0042
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion