Service User Focus Group: Guided self CBT for distressing voices
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The customer is always right: Lived experience perspectives on guided self-help CBT for distressing voices.
IRAS ID
160459
Contact name
Cassie Hazell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sussex
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
According to the latest Schizophrenia Commission report, only 10% of those with schizophrenia are offered a psychological treatment. The only individual psychological therapy recommended by NICE for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders is cognitive behavioural therapy. There is a strong evidence base for CBT in the treatment of psychosis, but access is poor. While the evidence base for pharmacological treatments is limited, it is even more important to increase the availability of evidence-based therapies like CBT for psychosis (CBTp).
One method of increasing access to CBTp is by delivering it within a low intensity format. Common methods of reducing the intensity of a therapy is through the use of less sessions or delivery by a non-therapist. A research trial plans to test the effectiveness of a low intensity CBTp intervention using both these methods.
Moreover, in order to improve the potential effectiveness of CBTp many in the field advocate the single symptoms approach. The single symptom approach argues psychological therapies should aim to target a specific symptom and not target the broader diagnostic category. Taking the single symptom approach and combining it with low intensity methods of therapy delivery could produce a brief and targeted therapy with better access. This research team plans to trial guided self-help CBT for voices (auditory hallucinations).
Before carrying out a trial of this intervention it is important to consult with the client base it aims to help. Lived experience consultation will help to develop a therapy protocol that meets the needs of the client base and considers their views and opinions. To do this, a series of focus groups will be conducted to ask those with lived experience of hearing voices for their thoughts on guided self-help CBT for voices (CBTv). The focus groups will be analysed to identify themes that can inform the therapy protocol.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1880
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion