Social Connections Feasibility Trial v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Social Connections and Unusual Beliefs and Experiences Study: A feasibility trial comparing individual and group interventions
IRAS ID
286005
Contact name
Lorna I Hogg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Psychosis is a mental health condition commonly associated with unusual perceptual experiences such as hearing voices and holding beliefs that others find hard to understand e.g. the belief that other people might intend you harm. Other challenges include thinking and communication difficulties and loss of motivation and pleasure in life. These experiences can make developing and maintaining relationships difficult. The stigma associated with psychosis can also lead to shame and loss of confidence in relating to others. Not surprisingly, evidence suggests that loneliness is common for people who experience psychosis. This is problematic because it affects quality of life together with health and wellbeing. However, the converse is also true: we now know from the social psychology field that relationships, specifically having a sense of belonging to social groups, can improve health and wellbeing. This has been demonstrated in relation to many physical, and more recently mental, health issues but not yet in relation to psychosis. Assessment of, and support with, relationships are government recommendations for people presenting to the NHS with psychosis, however unfortunately effective interventions to address difficulties with relationships are not routine and most services for people with psychosis focus on medical interventions. Building on the research on the health benefits of group belonging, this study will involve people with personal experience of psychosis in developing and checking the feasibility and acceptability of two interventions to enhance the social networks of people who experience psychosis. One intervention will involve individual support and the other support offered in the context of a group involving other people who also experience psychosis and identify loneliness as a problem. Participants will be randomly allocated to each of the two interventions. Both interventions will be co-produced and co-delivered with people who experience psychosis.
REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
21/WA/0360
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion