SlowMo trial: a digital therapy for people who fear harm from others

A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the outcomes and mechanisms of a novel digital reasoning intervention for persecutory delusions

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN32448671

Enrollment

360

Registered

2017-02-02

Start date

2017-05-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-03-31

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Paranoia Mental and Behavioural Disorders Delusional disorder

Interventions

Participants are randomised in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups. Intervention group: Participants receive the SlowMo intervention in addition to treatment as usual (TAU). SlowMo consists of eight ind

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 18 years and over 2. Persistent (3+ months) distressing paranoia (as assessed using clinical interview (SCAN) and score >29 on Green Paranoid Thoughts Scale (GPTS), persecutory subscale) 3. Diagnosis of schizophrenia-spectrum psychosis (F20-29, ICD 10: Present State Examination, version 10) 4. Capacity to provide informed consent 5. Sufficient grasp of English to participate in informed consent process, assessments and interventions

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Lacks capacity to consent 2. Profound visual and/ or hearing impairment 3. Insufficient comprehension of English 4. Inability to engage in the assessment procedure 5. Engagement in psychological therapy for paranoia 6. Primary diagnosis of substance abuse disorder, personality disorder, organic syndrome or learning disability

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Paranoia is assessed using the Green Paranoid Thoughts Scale (GPTS) at screening, baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Frequency, severity and impact of delusional beliefs are assessed using The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS-delusions) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 2. Positive symptoms are assessed using the Scales for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks (N.B all items will be used at baseline but only the Persecutory delusions and ideas of reference items will be used at 12 and 24 weeks) 3. Belief flexibility (Possibility of being mistaken; PM) is assessed using the Maudsley Assessment of Delusional Beliefs (MADS); Wessely et al. (1993), at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 4. Belief flexibility (Presence of Alternative Explanations; AE) is assessed using Explanation for Experiences (Freeman et al., 2004) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 5. The Jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias is assessed using the Beads Task in ratios 60:40 and 85:15 at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 week 6. Negative symptoms are assessed using Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) at baseline 7. Beliefs about problems are assessed using Beliefs about Problems Questionnaire at baseline 8. Working memory is assessed using Letter Number Sequencing (from Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS IV) at baseline 9. Processing speed and set-shifting are assessed using the Trail Making Task- A&B at baseline 10. Reasoning about paranoia is assessed using the Thinking about Paranoia Scale (TAPS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 11. Current worry is assessed using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 13. Beliefs about the self and others are assessed using Brief Core Schema Scales (BCSS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 14. Carer criticism is assessed using Perception of carer criticism (adapted from Hooley et al., 1989) at baseline 15. Mental well-being is assessed using The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 16. Quality of life is assessed using the Short Assessment of Quality of Life	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Frequency, severity and impact of delusional beliefs are assessed using The Psychotic Symptom Rating Scales (PSYRATS-delusions) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 2. Positive symptoms are assessed using the Scales for Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks (N.B all items will be used at baseline but only the Persecutory delusions and ideas of reference items will be used at 12 and 24 weeks) 3. Belief flexibility (Possibility of being mistaken; PM) is assessed using the Maudsley Assessment of Delusional Beliefs (MADS); Wessely et al. (1993), at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 4. Belief flexibility (Presence of Alternative Explanations; AE) is assessed using Explanation for Experiences (Freeman et al., 2004) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 5. The Jumping to conclusions (JTC) bias is assessed using the Beads Task in ratios 60:40 and 85:15 at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 week 6. Negative symptoms are assessed using Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS) at baseline 7. Beliefs about problems are assessed using Beliefs about Problems Questionnaire at baseline 8. Working memory is assessed using Letter Number Sequencing (from Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS IV) at baseline 9. Processing speed and set-shifting are assessed using the Trail Making Task- A&B at baseline 10. Reasoning about paranoia is assessed using the Thinking about Paranoia Scale (TAPS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 11. Current worry is assessed using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 13. Beliefs about the self and others are assessed using Brief Core Schema Scales (BCSS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 14. Carer criticism is assessed using Perception of carer criticism (adapted from Hooley et al., 1989) at baseline 15. Mental well-being is assessed using The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks 16. Quality of life is assessed using the Short Assessment of Quality of Life

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Countries

England, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 8, 2026