Psychosis recovery

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Co-Production of a Therapeutic Skills Training Programme for Carers, Relatives and Friends with Psychosis

  • IRAS ID

    212740

  • Contact name

    Arlinda Cerga Pashoja

  • Contact email

    arlinda.cerga-pashoja@lshtm.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 9 days

  • Research summary

    Psychosis is a complex, long-term illness, associated with poor health outcomes, such as impaired functioning, significant healthcare utilisation and a need for life-long emotional and practical support. Cuts in public health services and a shift towards community-based care, increases the weight of responsibilities managed by the carer. Very often, carers are equipped with little practical skills to manage complex mental health presentations, which can have a negative impact on their own wellbeing and mental health. Currently, there are no care-focused interventions that have shown produce positive outcomes for the carer, person with psychosis, while demonstrating cost-effectiveness.

    The study plans to develop Turkington et al’s (2006) Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) informed therapeutic skills training programme, helping carers to understand and apply key principles and techniques of CBT on the person with psychosis, being cared for.

    The current study aims to understand the best way of implementing such a program, to supplement the care being received on the NHS. Focus groups with carers, professionals and managers will be utilised to answer the following questions:

    1. Which wellbeing and recovery outcomes are considered important by carers and professionals and should be prioritised by a carer-focused therapeutic skills training programme?
    2. How could the programme be tailored for different carer and service user needs/groups?
    3. How should the programme’s content be balanced so that carers attend to their own wellbeing while assisting recovery for their family or friend with mental health problems?
    4. What training will professionals require to be able to guide, support and monitor carers and service users who will participate in the training programme?

    The findings of this project will be used to amend the therapeutic skills training programme and tailor it to users’ needs.

  • REC name

    West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    17/WM/0152

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 May 2017

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion