Ongoing research

• Comparing policy framework, structure, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of functional and integrated systems of mental health care – "COFI"
  Across Europe, mental health care systems are organised either as integrated systems, whereby in- and out-patient care is coordinated by a single team, or as functional systems, whereby in- and out-patient care is coordinated by multiple teams of different disciplines. Which system of mental health care is more effective?
• Quality and Effectiveness of Supported Tenancies for people with mental health problems – "QuEST"
  60,000 people with mental health problems live in supported accommodation in England, whether in Residential Care, Supported Housing or Floating Outreach. How do these services differ in terms of quality, cost and effectiveness?
• Volunteering in Mental Health Care for People with Psychosis – "VOLUME"
  People who have psychosis can be vulnerable to becoming socially isolated, with in turn can lead to poorer mental and physical health. How effective are schemes that pair volunteers with individuals who have a mental illness with a view to engaging them in social activities in the community?
• Involvement of carers in acute treatment of patients with psychosis – "CLAHRC"
  Although involving carers in mental health care can help patients' recovery in a number of ways, this practice is often not implemented. How can carer involvement be facilitated in routine NHS inpatient care?
• The Involvement of Family and Friends in Inpatient Mental Health Care: What Do Patients Want?
  Carers frequently report feeling excluded from patients' care, and the thoughts and feelings of patients themselves have not been extensively explored. Who do mental health patients want to be involved in their inpatient care and to what extent, and what do patients and carers identify as barriers to involvement?
• Developing, refining and testing intensive group music therapy for acute adult psychiatric inpatients
  Music therapy can reduce mental illness symptoms and may be an important part of inpatient care. How can music therapy be implemented in practice and what is the evidence for its effectiveness?
• The impact, assessment and longitudinal course of negative symptoms of schizophrenia
  There is lack of understanding around prevalence and long-term course of 'negative' symptoms of schizophrenia, ie, reduced emotional expression, social withdrawal, and a lack of initiative, amongst other symptoms. One key question inherent to this issues is: do negative symptoms change over time, and if so, how?
• Group Treatment for Schizophrenia: Identifying and linking group interactions and group experiences with outcomes
  In the UK, many mental health services rely heavily on group treatments in the care of individuals with schizophrenia, and although research has shown many of these to be effective, little is understood about how these treatments work. What verbal and non-verbal interactions are at play during groups, what are patients' experiences of groups, and how do these factors relate to improved outcomes for patients?
• Developing a Positive Psychology TecHnology for common mental health conditions – "DEPPTH"
  Although people in the UK who experience anxiety and depression are commonly referred to psychological therapies, waiting times are long and around half of people waiting do not start treatment. Can a positive psychology digital technology provide a useful alternative to people, and does it have the potential to improve how they feel?
• Retention of participants with psychosis in non-pharmacological research trials
  Understanding what affects participation in mental health trials is essential for ensuring that research is coordinated in an ethical and effective manner. In non-pharmacological interventions, why do people with psychosis participate in and/or drop out of trials, and how can retention strategies be made more effective for patients with psychosis?