What is the Feasibility of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) for People Experiencing Psychosis?
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-65
SponsorUniversity of Nottingham
About this trial
The goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the feasibility of Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) for people experiencing psychosis. The secondary goal of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of NET in reducing symptoms of psychosis and post-traumatic stress. Participants will be patients accessing local NHS mental health services who are between the age of 18 to 65 years-old who have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder and have a history of trauma. The main questions the study aims to answer are:
Is NET feasible to deliver to people experiencing psychosis
Can NET impact symptoms of psychosis in people experiencing psychosis?
Can NET impact symptoms posttraumatic stress in people experiencing psychosis?
Can NET impact symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in people experiencing psychosis?
Participants will be asked to:
Undertake the NET intervention with a trained NET therapist (the number of sessions will be decided based on the need of the participant)
Complete a questionnaire to assess the traumas they have experienced over the course of their life (called the 'Trauma and Life Events' Scale)
Complete a weekly interview to assess their symptoms of psychosis (called the 'Simplified Negative and Positive Symptoms Interview')
Complete weekly measures to assess symptoms of post-traumatic stress (called the 'International Trauma Questionnaire')
Complete weekly measures to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress (using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress 21 item Scale \[DASS-21\])
Complete a follow-up interview to discuss their personal experience of the NET intervention)
Eligibility criteria
Qualifiers
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Disqualifiers
Recent change in antipsychotic medication - If the person has recently started, stopped, or changed their antipsychotic medication. This is because there are no specific medical tests ("biomarkers") to predict how someone will respond to a new medication, and the effects can vary greatly between individuals. The first few weeks after a medication change can be a time of increased risk for worsening symptoms or relapse. Research also shows that stopping and starting medication can temporarily affect thinking skills such as memory and attention.
A suicide attempt
A hospital admission for mental health reasons This is because there is currently little research on how trauma-focused therapy affects people with severe mental illness who have recently been suicidal, and starting therapy too soon after a crisis may not be safe.
Trial design
Treatments tested in this trial
- Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)
Treatment groups
1 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupLocations
Sponsors and collaborators
University of Nottingham
Lead sponsor
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov