Cognitive and social processes in psychosis: developing more effective teatment approaches. (360G-Wellcome-062452_Z_00_A)

The aim of our research is to advance the understanding of psychosis, in order to improve treatment. Schizophrenia-spectrum psychoses are distressing and disabling for sufferers, place high demands on carers and have high health and social care costs. The effectiveness of medication, the first line treatment, is limited and the risk of relapse is high. Our research strategy is to combine two major outcome trials of psychological treatments with a linked series of explanatory studies. We have developed and evaluated two treatments, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and family interventions (FI). Both are known to be effective, but they have different targets of change and little is known about how they work. Our model of psychosis identifies specific cognitive and social processes which we hypothesise to maintain psychosis and to be important targets of treatment. We intend to test this model to improve understanding of change processes and enhance treatment effectiveness. After five years, we aim to have confirmed that CBT reduces relapse; to have identified processes which maintain psychosis and contribute to relapse; to have identified how CBT and FI work; and to have refined both treatments to meet specific clinical needs.