News, events and getting involved in research

CONNECT

Paid opportunity to join a research advisory panel

The CONNECT study is a large research project. The research team are looking for people with lived experience of psychosis to help develop and test a digital monitoring platform (which will include a smart phone app) for people with psychosis

Led by The University of Manchester in six sites around the UK, the team is working on research to understand how to predict and prevent relapse of psychosis using a digital monitoring platform.

Current methods of monitoring and assessing psychosis involve face-to-face meetings that rely on people recalling their symptoms and issues. At present, the mental health of many people with psychosis is not being looked at often enough. This means that the warning signs of people becoming unwell can be missed.

The new programme of research involves the development and study of a digital monitoring platform to monitor people’s symptoms and experiences of psychosis. An ‘artificial intelligence’ approach is used to see if using the app can identify signs that someone may be becoming unwell. The hope is that in the future people can be identified and help given before they become too unwell.

The study will take place over four and a half years in Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Sussex (Brighton), London, and Cardiff.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for two people from Sussex with experience of psychosis to form group called a Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP). The LEAP will be expected to attend meetings, the majority of which will be online but there will be some travel to face-to-face meetings.

The group will meet around five times a year. There will be some tasks in between meetings as well. We are also looking for a wider network of people who could be involved on a more ‘as and when’ basis. This ‘Involvement Network’ of people will not be invited to attend meetings but will be asked to respond to occasional email requests for advice. For example, testing the new app, or giving feedback on a summary document.

Mental health problems and experiences affect everyone, but involvement in research does not always reflect this. Therefore, we actively seeking applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic groups. We would especially like to hear from those who have experienced difficult life experiences (for example: seldom-heard groups and low-income backgrounds).

We would also like to hear from people who have not had the opportunity to be involved in research before.

Location:

We are looking for people who live in or near to Sussex

NB: Some meetings will be held in person. The location of the meetings will vary. Some travel will therefore be needed across the country. We will also consider people who live anywhere in the UK for the wider study ‘Involvement Network’.

Payment and expenses:

Payment of up to £80 will be offered for online meetings (dependant on the length of the meeting). Payment of £100 will be offered for in person meetings.

Payment will also be offered for tasks to be undertaken in between meetings or by email.

All reasonable travel expenses for in meetings will be covered. We will also try to help in case anyone does not have suitable computer/phone or data to take part in online meetings.

How to apply

To apply please complete the application form and email it to Alex Kenny (email: alexkenny@mcpin.org).

If you are not able to fill out the application form or if you have any questions please get in contact with Alex by email or phone 07518 110 129.

COPe – Carers fOr people with Psychosis E-support

E-support for families and friends of individuals affected by Psychosis. The study aims to find out if COPe-support works to improve carers’ wellbeing and how well they cope with caring. The COPe-support provides peer support, information on psychosis and ways for carers to look after themselves, all online.

What is involved?

We are inviting carers supporting a loved one affected by psychosis to join the study, using the online resource called COPe. Carers can be parents, partners, siblings, other relatives or close friends. Participants will receive £30 in total for their time.

Interested?

To take part you must meet the following criteria:

Supporting a loved one affected by Psychosis; Aged 18+Have internet access

Unfortunately you cannot take part if:

You’re not living in England; Unable to communicate in English

If you would like to take part or want more information please contact the study lead:

Carolyn Asher; Email: c.asher@nhs.net; Tel: 02382 310787 or 02380 475943

ALKERMES

Alkermes intends to investigate if olanzapine and samidorphan (ALK 3831) can allow patients to have the benefits of olanzapine without the associated weight gain and metabolic risks.

APPROVE

AppRoVE aims to develop questionnaires to measure whether a therapy is helping people develop assertive responding to voices. Participation involves people who hear voices completing some questionnaires with researchers.

THE OTSUKA DIGITAL MEDICINE STUDY

The Otsuka Digital Medicine Study aims to explore the performance and acceptability of a digital medicine system with healthcare professionals and adult subjects with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or first episode psychosis. Participation involves using the digital medicine system for 8 weeks, and completing three assessments at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

PPIP2

PPIP2 is a pilot study that aims to test enough patients with psychosis to be able to define the prevalence of schizophrenia that is caused by an antibody mediated disorder. Participation involves a blood sample and permission to store the sample for future testing. Participants receive £10 reimbursement for their time.

THE SLEEP & PSYCHOTIC FEATURES STUDY

The Sleep & Psychotic Features Study investigates the relationship between sleep and mood in people who have been referred to NHS mental health services, to understand if sleep problems are present in these people.

7-TESLA

7-Tesla aims to use an advanced brain imaging system (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) to examine changes in brain chemicals in people with psychosis. This study will focus on a natural chemical messenger called glutamate which is thought to be involved in the development of psychotic symptoms. Participation involves a blood sample, an MRI scan at 7 TESLA (1 hour & 30-minute symptom questionnaire), and cognitive tests (1 hour). Participants receive £75 reimbursement and reasonable travel expenses.

To find out more about any of these studies, please email: mentalhealthresearch@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

PPIP2 - Prevalence of Pathogenic Antibodies in Psychosis

The PPiP2 is a cross-sectional study aiming to investigate the prevalence of autoimmune antibodies in patients with psychosis symptoms.

The PPiP2 study includes adult (18-70 yrs) participants from NHS mental health services who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis or relapse of psychosis symptoms. For participants who relapsed there needs to be a period of at least six months of remission prior to the current episode. Patients with any other neurological disorder or a primary diagnosis of drug induced psychosis would not be included in the study.

The study aims to understand if some cases of psychiatric illness are caused by immune system problems in some people. The immune system normally controls our ability to fight infection. If the immune system goes wrong it may cause diseases called ‘autoimmune’ diseases. We can diagnose some of these immune diseases using blood tests.

Dr Belinda Lennox, or a member of the research team, may be contacted on telephone 01865 613145 , email ppip@psych.ox.ac.uk or by post at University of Oxford, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX37JX.

GAME CHANGE

What is the study about?

gameChange is a large project, taking place over three years. The project is funded by The National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) invention 4 innovation (i4i) Mental Health 2017 Challenge Award. The study will look at the impact of virtual reality (VR) treatment on people with psychosis. The ultimate goal of this VR treatment is to help people to go out more and feel less anxious when doing so.

The project brings together a team of NHS Trusts, Universities, The Royal College of Art, mental health charity McPin Foundation (which places services users at the heart of its research), MindTech (who develop new technologies for the treatment, diagnosis and management of mental health), and Oxford VR – (The University of Oxford’s virtual reality spin-out company). The project will be led by Professor Daniel Freeman, from the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry.

The project is comprised of four work packages:

1. An initial design phase to program a VR treatment that is simple to use, engaging, and right for patient’s needs.

2. Work with NHS staff to understand, and consider ways to overcome, the barriers and facilitators to delivering VR treatment within routine mental health services.

3. A large multi-centre clinical trial in NHS trusts across the country to demonstrate the benefits of the VR treatment.

4. Making a commissioning case to help roll out the treatment across the NHS (scheduled for June 2021).

Can I take part?

Recruitment is due to start in July 2019 but there may be events and workshops for service users, staff and carers before this date. For the trial, we will be looking for individuals who:

Are aged 16+; Are attending psychosis services; And have self-reported difficulties going outside.

How do I find out more?

If you would like to find out more about the gameChange project or hear about any opportunities to be involved, please contact Heather Peel – Service User Researcher 07824 475 374; heather.peel@gmmh.nhs.uk

IATTP

Do you experience psychosis? Are in contact with a community mental health service? We are looking for people who experience psychosis to take part in a research trial looking at possible benefits of Attention Training Technique (ATT) to help with difficulties associated with psychosis.

What is this research?

iATTp is a research trial looking at whether ATT is helpful for people who are experiencing psychosis. ATT aims to help a person build skills in selecting their attention.

What are the benefits of taking part in research?

Research studies like the iATTp trial are important to help develop the best possible help for people experiencing mental health or emotional difficulties. Whether or not you receive therapy in this trial, feedback from previous studies suggests that trial participants often feel good about being part of something that could help provide better care for others in the future.

What will happen if I choose to take part?

If you are interested in taking part, one of our research assistants will get in touch to discuss the further detail with you. We will provide you with enough information to make an informed decision and answer any questions that you might have. We may also need to talk to someone who already knows you such as a GP, care coordinator or mental health professional to make sure that the iATTp trial is suitable for you.

Compensation

In order to compensate you for your time or other expenses we will offer you £20 at each assessment point (i.e. after the initial assessment, and at your 3, 6, and 12 month follow-ups) totalling £80.You can leave the study at any time. This will not affect your care.

How can I find out more?

If you would like more information, we are more than happy for you to contact a member of the research team. To discuss taking part in this study, please contact: Lydia Pearson (Research Assistant) on 0161 358 1863/07827 903 300 or Sophie Parker (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) on 0161 358 1395/07767 755 790