Assessing the Feasibility of a Novel Intervention for Young People With At Risk Mental State and Attenuated Positive Psychotic Symptoms: The Viability of Its Use in the NHS and of a Future Trial

Young people with At Risk Mental State (ARMS) may have changes in their thoughts and the way they see or hear things, which they might find odd and distressing. They may be feeling tense, worried and low in mood and may not feel like socialising. They may also experience difficulties with eating and sleeping. For many people these symptoms might not last for very long, but for a small number of people, they might last longer and could become worse (health professionals call this psychosis).

Psychological therapy, which involves talking to a therapist, can help to stop these symptoms from getting worse, stopping psychosis. It can also help to make the symptoms better. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is the treatment that is most recommended to help young people with ARMS. But, this is not always available, can take a long time and is quite expensive. Some research has shown that brief therapy with a therapist who is warm and understanding and helps the young person to make sense of their symptoms, may be as helpful as CBT, and is quicker and cheaper.

This study hopes to develop a treatment like this and to offer it to 12 young people, aged between 16 and 25, who are experiencing the symptoms outlined. Participants will be given four treatment sessions, and will be asked to complete some questionnaires. The study aims to see how they find it and whether it seems to help them. It will also ask professionals who work with these young people what they think about the new therapy. This is a feasibility study so the findings will help us to decide whether more research should be done on this treatment and whether it could be offered in the NHS in the future.