None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of delivering Social Rhythm Therapy (SRT) over 12 weeks in an online setting for adults diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. SRT is an evidence-based psychological therapy designed to reduce depressive mood and suicidality in people with bipolar disorder, however it has not been tested in people with psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, etc.). Participants will be recruited through social media and through our research group's existing participant pool of individuals with psychotic disorders who have provided consent to be contacted about research opportunities. Primary outcomes are the feasibility and acceptability of SRT delivered online. Secondary outcomes are the intervention’s impacts on social rhythm regularity, mood symptoms, and suicidality.
Interventions
The intervention is Social Rhythm Therapy (SRT). This is an evidence-based manualised psychological therapy based on chronobiology. SRT focuses on the stabilisation of "social rhythms", which are the social relationships, social demands, and tasks that serve to entrain chronobiological rhythms. SRT focuses on teaching behavioural strategies to help stabilise and maintain healthy routines, including sleep-wake cycles, mealtimes, and physical/social activity schedules. We will use a 12-week manual
The intervention is Social Rhythm Therapy (SRT). This is an evidence-based manualised psychological therapy based on chronobiology. SRT focuses on the stabilisation of "social rhythms", which are the social relationships, social demands, and tasks that serve to entrain chronobiological rhythms. SRT focuses on teaching behavioural strategies to help stabilise and maintain healthy routines, including sleep-wake cycles, mealtimes, and physical/social activity schedules. We will use a 12-week manualised adaptation of SRT for people with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, adapted from the the Social Rhythm Therapy for Bipolar manual (Crowe & Inder, 2018). The goals of SRT are to: • Stabilise circadian rhythms • Regulate daily social rhythms that impact on circadian rhythms • Develop self-awareness of psychiatric symptoms; chrono-disruptors; early warning signs and effective actions to take SRT Session Structure Assessment Phase (4 sessions): - Relationship between schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and circadian rhythms - Understanding of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder: Exploration of participants' knowledge of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and the impact on them. - Social rhythms: Review of key social rhythms (sleep patterns, exercise, activity, mealtimes). Commence recording of Social Rhythm Metric for 3 weeks to establish baseline and identify areas of unstable routines and potential target areas for intervention. - Timeline: Identify the pattern and course of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and understanding the connection between disruptions in routines and disruptions in mood. - Brief Interpersonal Inventory: Understanding the role that relationships can have as routine disruptors and supporters. - Clinical formulation of the participant’s problems in relation to mood and social rhythms. - Goal setting: Facilitate an opportunity for the participant to identify focus the focus of therapy and key routines and disruptors to target. Middle phase (6 sessions) - Targeting problematic social rhythms and identifying strategies to establish more regular patterns. - Impact of strategies on social rhythms and mood. - Implementation of strategies intended to improve sleep quality. - Implementation of strategies to stabilise social rhythms. - Developing problem-solving skills to manage stress, chrono-disrupters and early warning signs. Final phase (2 sessions) - Identification of effective strategies and future situations in which they can be used. - Review of clinical formulation and modification to reflect change and future strategies. The SRT intervention consists of one-to-one weekly sessions of around 1 hour each. The 12-week length is based on prior SRT studies and was chosen to include time to attend to factors such as establishing therapeutic alliance and providing psychoeducation about schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder and links to biological rhythm disruption. SRT will be delivered online (via Zoom) by a board registered psychologist (referred to here as the "clinician") who has prior experience in delivering chronobiological therapies such as SRT. Sessions will be scheduled weekly at a time that is mutually suitable for the participant and the clinician delivering the intervention. Reminder emails will be sent to the participant the day prior to every scheduled session. If a participant does not join their scheduled session (on Zoom) within 10 minutes of the scheduled start time, the clinician will attempt to call the participant and either reschedule the session or start the zoom session. If uncontactable by phone, the clinician will email the participant to enquire if they would like to reschedule the session or discontinue participation in the study. If a participant does not attend a scheduled session for 2 consecutive weeks, they will be withdrawn from the study.
Sponsors
Deakin University
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Have received a diagnosis from a doctor (e.g. psychiatrist) of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; • Have had experiences of suicidality (i.e. thoughts of suicide, or engaging in suicidal behaviour) at any time since receiving the above diagnosis; • Are over 18 years of age; • Live in Australia; • Can attend (online via Zoom) 12 weekly therapy sessions of up to 1 hour each.
Exclusion criteria
Have ever received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Currently admitted to a health service (e.g. hospital) as an inpatient. Experiencing any acute or chronic symptom/s that would limit ability to participate in the study.
Outcome results
None listed