None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
In this study we will evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, safety and initial clinical benefits of an online intervention (HORYZONS) designed to maintain the benefits of early intervention services for psychosis over the long term. We expect that HORYZONS will be well-received, safe and seen as a valuable treatment option by young people suffering from psychosis.
Interventions
Our newly developed moderated on-line social therapy model (MOST) offers an ICT paradigm which has the potential to address important challenges in the engagement and treatment of young people recovering from early psychosis. We have pioneered and developed a new model for on-line behavioural interventions entitled “Moderated on-line social therapy” (MOST). The MOST model integrates on-line social networking with individually tailored interactive psychosocial interventions, with the involvement
Our newly developed moderated on-line social therapy model (MOST) offers an ICT paradigm which has the potential to address important challenges in the engagement and treatment of young people recovering from early psychosis. We have pioneered and developed a new model for on-line behavioural interventions entitled “Moderated on-line social therapy” (MOST). The MOST model integrates on-line social networking with individually tailored interactive psychosocial interventions, with the involvement of expert mental health and peer moderators to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the intervention. MOST has been applied to a world-first program entitled “Horyzons” designed for the purpose of assisting young FEP patients in their recovery. Horyzons is a wesbite which has been designed as a supplement to traditional face-to-face biopsychosocial interventions for FEP, and has not been designed as a replacement for recommended treatments. The online intervention will be provided for a 4-week period. Participants will be asked to use Horyzons at their discretion.
Sponsors
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
15 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(a) a first episode of a DSM-IV psychotic disorder or mood disorder with psychotic features; (b) aged 15-25 years inclusive; (c) less than or equal to 6 months treatment with an antipsychotic medication prior to registration with the early psychosis service; (d) remission on positive symptoms of psychosis which will be defined as 4 weeks or more of scores of 3 (mild) or below on the subscale items hallucinations, unusual thought disorder, conceptual disorganization, and suspiciousness on the expanded version of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Additional inclusion criteria to ensure low level of risk within MOST include: (e) low aggressiveness which will be defined by a score of 5 or below (with the exception of evidence of threat to others) on the hostility subscale of the expanded version of the BPRS for the month prior to study entry; and, (f) low suicidal risk defined as a score of 4 or below on the suicidality subscale for the month preceding study entry.
Exclusion criteria
(a) intellectual disability; (b) inability to converse in, or read English; (c) participation in previous CBT or pharmacological trials for psychosis; (d) a DSM-IV diagnosis of either antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD); (e) pregnancy; (f) medical conditions requiring high level of care; (g) presence of acute psychotic symptoms above a mild level; (h) presence of moderate or above levels of suicidality or hostility.
Outcome results
None listed