Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Study not assigned to a MH Clinical Studies Group
Conditions
Interventions
At the start of the study, the statistician responsible for randomisation will generate a group allocation sequence that will link participant IDs to either positive written disclosure (PWD), writing
Sponsors
University of Sussex
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Classified as a primary caregiver as defined by the Royal College of General Practitioners (2011, p. 9): “any person who provides unpaid support to a partner, child, relative or friend who couldn’t manage to live independently or whose health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help.” 2. Aged 50 years or over 3. Providing care for someone with a psychosis diagnosis - psychosis is defined here as including the following diagnoses: 3.1. Schizophrenia 3.2. Schizoaffective disorder 3.3. Schizotypal Personality Disorder 3.4. Delusional disorder 3.5. Psychosis not otherwise specified 3.6. Bipolar 3.7. Depression with psychotic features 4. Able to read, write and communicate in English
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Currently receiving or have confirmed plans to engage in psychological therapy of any form (including family therapies).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Mood is measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Symptoms of anxiety and depression are measured using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months 2. Self-efficacy is measured using the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months 3. Wellbeing is measured using the Caregiver Wellbeing and Support Scale (CWSv2) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months 4. Alexithymia is measured using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 20) at baseline only 5. General health and health economics is measured using the EQ-5D at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months 6. Satisfaction with leisure activities is measured using the Leisure Time Satisfaction Measure (LTS) at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months Feasibility outcomes: 1. Recruitment rate is measured as the proportion of participant who provide consent, compared to those who are referred, at baseline. 2. Retention rate is measured as the percentage of participants that provide data at all time points (baseline, and 1, 3 and 6 months) at the end of the study 3. Adherence to the intervention is measured as the percentage of participants that complete writing on all three days, the percentage of participants that write for 20 minutes each day, and the percentage of participants that complete their writing on the three consecutive days, at the end of the study | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed