None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this research is to determine whether the inclusion of a physical health nurse will improve the physical health of young people with a first episode of psychosis. The rationale behind this study is that numerous studies have demonstrated that young people who develop a first episode of psychosis have poorer physical health compared to their peers who do not have psychotic disorders, specifically, they are more likely to be overweight or obese, to be inactive, to have a poor diet and to smoke. In addition, some of the medications that are prescribed for psychosis can lead to weight gain, therefore it is important that we address or prevent these physical health problems. We also know that young people with a first episode of psychosis are more likely to have poorer sexual health than their peers, in that they are more likely to engage in high risk sexual behaviours, such as not using contraception. Furthermore, there is evidence emerging that sleep is a very important component of physical and mental well being, so we would like to learn more about the characteristics of sleep in young people with a first episode of psychosis.
Interventions
Brief name: Physical health nurse
Description: Participants allocated to the intervention group will have a physical health nurse as part of their treating team for a 12-week period. The purpose of the physical health nurse is to provide coordination of the physical health services for the young people who attend the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) at Orygen Youth Health. This role includes performing physical health screening (metabolic monitoring) and facilitating c
Brief name: Physical health nurse Description: Participants allocated to the intervention group will have a physical health nurse as part of their treating team for a 12-week period. The purpose of the physical health nurse is to provide coordination of the physical health services for the young people who attend the Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre (EPPIC) at Orygen Youth Health. This role includes performing physical health screening (metabolic monitoring) and facilitating clients attending the services at Orygen Youth Health that have been established to address the physical health of young people, including but not limited to exercise physiologists, dieticians, gym group, yoga group, and 'Tackling tobacco' intervention in conjunction with QUIT Victoria. The physical health nurse will have weekly contact with participants via a combination of face-to-face and telephone contact, typically separate to the treating team appointments.
Sponsors
Orygen, the National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
15 Years to 24 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
- Eligible for EPPIC and this involves: residing within the geographically defined catchment area, be aged between 15 and 24 and experiencing a first episode of psychosis, defined as experiencing at least one positive psychotic symptom on a daily basis for at least one week, - Ability to provide informed consent. - Have at least 12 weeks of care remaining at EPPIC
Exclusion criteria
- More than 30 days total exposure to the minimum effective dose for a psychotic disorder (reference – Maudsley guidelines)
Outcome results
None listed