Understanding how caregivers think about people experiencing psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Metacognition in caregivers of people with psychosis exhibiting negative symptoms: Caregiver experience, emotional overinvolvement and distress
IRAS ID
230357
Contact name
Hamish J McLeod
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
GN17MH498, R&D reference
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
The experience of psychosis can involve ‘positive’ (e.g. hallucinations) and ‘negative’ (e.g. low motivation) symptoms. Patients with negative symptoms generally have a more difficult recovery but we do not know much about the origin of these symptoms. One theory is that difficulties in thinking about their own mind or the mind of others (metacognitive ability) arises as a way of coping with interpersonal pressures.
This research aims to expand the evidence base by looking closer at the relationship between metacognitive ability in caregivers of people with psychosis and the type and severity of negative symptom presentation displayed by the patient. It will also explore the strength of associations between the metacognitive ability of the caregiver; caregiver attributions; emotional over involvement, levels of distress and type and severity of negative symptoms.
Thirty-five semi-structured interviews will be undertaken with carers of patients with longstanding illness, dominated by negative symptoms. Participants will be carers of patients who have mostly negative symptoms in the context of a diagnosis of a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Patient recruitment will be conducted in inpatient wards and secure units. Patients who agree to participate will be asked to complete a scale to measure the type and severity of their negative symptoms and asked if their healthcare team can approach their carer(s) to participate in the research. Potential carers will be invited via letter which will be delivered by ward staff and/or the patient and asked to complete a permission slip for their details to be passed to the research team.
When both the patient and caregiver have given written informed consent, an appointment will be scheduled to complete an interview. The caregiver will be asked about what it is like being a carer and how this has affected their lives. They will also be given 3 questionnaires, designed to measure – 1) their experience of being a caregiver; (2) relatives’ attitudes and behaviour towards the patient and (3) their level of psychological distress. This data will be coded for metacognitive ability and then analysed.
REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
17/WS/0208
Date of REC Opinion
13 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion