People recovering from psychosis often struggle to rebuild a meaningful life, even after their symptoms fade, and this programme aims to change how the NHS supports that process. Current mental health services focus heavily on reducing psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusions, but they pay far less attention to the broader psychological and social factors that help someone recover—such as rebuilding a sense of self, finding hope, and re-engaging with work or relationships. The research also addresses critical gaps: standard cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for psychosis does not reduce suicide risk, despite suicide being a significant danger for people with schizophrenia, and alternative delivery methods (like group or self-help approaches) remain under-explored. Additionally, people with bipolar disorder have been largely left out of recovery research. If successful, this programme will produce a patient-centred measure of recovery, identify psychological processes that either block or aid recovery, and test new interventions—including suicide prevention methods—that could be rolled out across NHS mental health services. The findings may also extend to bipolar disorder, broadening the impact beyond psychosis alone.
View original technical description
Aims / ObjectivesThis programme builds on our track record of collaborative research on psychological approaches to understanding and treating psychosis, by extending this work to encompass understanding and promoting recovery from psychosis, in a manner that is acceptable to and empowering of service users. BackgroundInvolving service users in research on recovery is important. Recovery is a process that includes the concept of personal change in which the development of a new sense of self can lead to the establishment of a fulfilling and meaningful life, whether or not symptoms are present. Our recent user-led study of recovery identified a number of common themes including understanding of self, empowerment, rebuilding life and the inspiration of hope. There is demand for recovery orientated services, but little is known about psychosocial factors that influence recovery or specific treatments that promote recovery from psychosis. A range of outcome measures have been developed to assess and monitor psychotic symptoms and to evaluate outcome from intervention trials, but with little user involvement. Recent research has highlighted the importance of psychological processes underlying specific problems associated with psychosis, but little is known about their relationship to recovery. There is consistent evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) delivers significant benefits to individuals with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia-related disorders, but there are significant gaps in the evidence base. Recent guidelines have recommended that all people with psychosis have access to CBT, but the lack of trained therapists means that availability is currently limited; however, alternative modes of delivering CBT for psychosis are under-explored. A significant proportion of those who are diagnosed with psychotic disorders also experience hopelessness and suicidal ideation, with suicide being a significant risk in people suffering schizophrenia, but standard CBT for psychosis fails to reduce suicide risk. Research on early intervention for psychosis and CBT for early phases has advanced significantly in recent years, but little is known about the application of such approaches to recovery from bipolar disorder.Research PlansWe will conduct a series of linked studies to: (a) develop a meaningful and patient-centred measure of recovery; (b) study psychological processes that impeded or assist the process of recovery in different domains; (c) investigate the causes of patient suicide and identify methods of preventing suicide; (d) evaluate individual, group and self-help psychological interventions to maximise recovery from psychosis; and (e) assess the extent to which our research and treatment findings from patients with psychosis can be applied to patients with bipolar disorder, who have been studied less often. The studies will be linked with a core set of measures, entry criteria, strategies for data analysis and structures for research management and user involvement. Timing of studies will maximise efficiency, recruitment and value for money. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods will be employed. The research programme will culminate in recommendations for more effective and patient-centred assessment and treatment strategies.Research Team and EnvironmentWe have extensive experience in developing psychological models of psychosis and, based upon these, in developing and evaluating CBT for psychosis. We are international leaders in this field, as evidenced by our track record of externally funded experimental research, clinical trials and NHS service-based research. We have a track record of successful user-led research into recovery from psychosis, and an existing service user research steering group. We also have made demonstrable impacts on NHS services. We have the University-NHS partnership, collaborations and infrastructure to successfully carry out this research, with a record of successful col
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know