Name:	GCIT
Title:	Evaluation of cognitive interpersonal group Evaluation of cognitive interpersonal group therapy for psychosis
Researchers:
Funding Body:	R&D NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and SMHRN
Funding Awarded:	£55,017
Start Date:	01/12/2007
End Date:

 

Background:

Psychosis often has a devastating long-term impact on people’s lives. Shame, entrapment, low self-esteem and stigma typically result in anxiety, depression, and social isolation, which significantly impair the quality of life of up to 75% of people with psychosis - often long after acute symptoms have remitted. The ongoing activation of psychological threats can lead to the development of a defeatist, self-attacking or avoidant attitude, which blocks emotional recovery. The present approach aims to counteract self-attacking by building emotional resilience, self-compassion and peer attachments. An uncontrolled trial of compassionate mind training for people with psychosis in a forensic setting has shown positive outcomes in terms of reduced depression, improved self-esteem and general psychopathology (Laithwaite et al., 2009).

Objectives:

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of compassion-focused group therapy in promoting emotional recovery from psychosis in a community setting. Specific aims are:

1. To investigate characteristics of patients suitable for therapy
2. To gauge clinically meaningful effect sizes of therapy
3. To assess the phenomenology of emotional recovery after psychosis
4. To assess feasibility of larger-scale trial
5. To further develop therapy manual

Method:

40 adult outpatients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders and identified psychological needs were randomly assigned to either treatment as usual (TAU) or to 16 sessions of compassion-focused group therapy and treatment as usual. Each of the three therapy groups were delivered by 2 clinical psychologists. To measure the effect of group on emotional recovery, an independent research assistant blind to assignment conducted assessments at baseline and post-treatment. Outcome measures included:

• Beck Depression Inventory II
• Positive and Negative Affect Scale
• Personal Beliefs about Illness Questionnaire – Revised
• Fear of Recurrence Scale
• Relational Compassion Scale

The study will explore potential mechanisms of change reflected in narrative organisation.