Project details

Summary

What is the study about?

Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia, affect about 3% of the population worldwide. They can be severe and disabling and associated with high personal, social and economic costs. They tend to have their first onset in adolescence or late adulthood, meaning that many years may be lived with illness. 

In the mid-1990s researchers investigated if psychosis could be prevented by detecting early signs and symptoms. Criteria were developed that identify individuals at high risk of developing a first episode of psychosis the At Risk Mental State (ARMS) criteria. 

What are you trying to find out?

The goal of the IPPACT project is to improve the detection of individuals with At Risk Mental States (ARMS) most at risk of transitioning to first episode psychosis. This will allow for better accuracy of where service users’ needs are best met and reduce the risk of services/treatments being used which are not required. Additionally, for more efficient allocation of time and resources within clinical services individuals who need more intensive support can be identified and prioritised.

By improving the accuracy of detecting ARMS individuals, the project aims to enhance the overall quality of care and support provided to those in need. This, in turn, will contribute to better health outcomes and improved public health. 

What does taking part involve?

The IPPACT project has several key components to ensure the successful implementation of its aims. Research assistants are based within the clinical team to assist with data management, assessment tracking, and anonymous data transfer to the research database. This will ensure that data is accurately recorded and easily accessible for analysis. Additionally, all new cases undergo a CAARMS assessment as part of routine practice, which will be supported by CAARMS training and scoring clinics as needed.

To inform the prognostic model, clinicians will also administer additional questions and measures, chosen after consultation with staff and service users across different sites. All new ARMS cases will receive an IPPACT leaflet, which explains that their routinely collected data will be entered anonymously into a research database unless they choose to opt out. This will help ensure transparency and informed consent in the data collection process. 

Who is it for?

• you are being supported by a mental health service
• you have been having some difficulties which might include things like feeling suspicious, hearing things that other people cannot or having unusual beliefs.

Why is it important? 

About 15 - 22% of people identified as ARMS develop psychosis within 12 months - a risk about 400 times that that of the general population. Having this knowledge in advance presents the opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of psychosis in high risk individuals. However, most individuals meeting the ARMS criteria will not develop psychosis.

Therefore, we need to improve our ability to predict psychosis within the ARMS group. This is the aim of this study.

How can I find out more?

You can find out more by visiting the website linked here. 

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