RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Implementation of REFOCUS Training Program in Mental Health Services

This study is checking a special training program called REFOCUS, which is designed for mental health teams in the UK. The main aim is to see if this training helps people with mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or severe anxiety and depression, to recover better. They will train staff for three days and then watch if the care they provide improves. The study will also look at whether this training reduces the costs of mental health services, improves how people feel about stigma (being judged), increases their well-being, and helps them function better in daily life. It's for people aged 15 to 65 who are already receiving care from teams taking part in the training.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Hôpital le Vinatier

Enrolment target

760

Start

19 Jun 2023

Estimated completion

30 May 2027

Mental Disorders

What is this study about?

This study is focused on improving how mental health services in the UK support people dealing with conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe anxiety or depression. The researchers are introducing a special program called REFOCUS. This program involves a three-day training course for mental health staff, teaching them how to focus care more on helping individuals recover and live fulfilling lives.

The main idea behind this study is to see if, after their care team has had this REFOCUS training, patients will find it easier to recover within a year. But it's not just about recovery; the researchers also want to find out if the training helps staff change their approach to care, making it more recovery-focused. They'll also be looking at whether this training might lead to lower costs for mental health services in the long run.

Beyond that, the study will explore other important aspects. They want to see if the training helps to lessen the feeling of being judged (stigma) and the stress that comes with it, improve people's general well-being, reduce feelings of being pressured into treatment, and help people manage their daily lives better. This ongoing research aims to make mental health support more effective and more in tune with what individuals need for their own recovery.

Key takeaways

This study evaluates training for mental health staff.
It aims to improve recovery for people with mental health conditions.
Participation involves sharing information about your experiences, not changes to your treatment.
The training is hoped to reduce stigma and improve well-being.
You must be aged 15-65 and receiving care from a participating team.
You can stop participating at any time.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you would need to be between 15 and 65 years old. You must have been diagnosed with certain mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, or severe anxiety or depressive disorder. Importantly, your care team or the specific unit treating you must be taking part in the REFOCUS training programme.

You also need to be a French speaker (as the original study was conducted in French, this implies the materials and training are in French) and be part of a social security scheme. If you're under 18, your parents or guardians would need to be informed and agree for you to take part. Similarly, if you have a legal guardian, they would be involved in the consent process, but you would still sign the forms yourself if you are under curatorship.

There are also some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. These include being under the age of 15 or over 65, having a guardian (tutorship), or having certain other health conditions like an intellectual disability or serious brain conditions. If you're taking any medications that affect your brain or mood, such as some corticosteroids, you also wouldn't be able to participate.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 15 and 65 years old?
Do you have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar, or severe anxiety/depression?
Is your mental health team taking part in the REFOCUS training?
Are you able to speak and understand French? (Original study was in French)
Are you not under guardianship (tutorship)?
Do you not have an intellectual disability or serious brain condition?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study is focused on training mental health staff rather than directly involving you in new treatments or regular hospital visits. If your mental health team is taking part in the REFOCUS training, you would be asked to participate as someone whose care is being evaluated. This means that after your care team has received the special training, researchers will gather information about your progress and well-being. This might involve answering questions about your recovery, how you feel about your care, your general well-being, and how you manage daily life. It's not about changing your current medication or treatment plan, but rather understanding if the staff's training makes a positive difference to the care you receive. The study aims to evaluate the impact over one to two years.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of taking part is that your care team will be receiving training designed to improve mental health support, which could lead to more recovery-focused and effective care for you. There are no direct medical risks as this study doesn't involve new medications or procedures for patients. The main involvement would be sharing information about your experiences, which might require some time and honest reflection. You are always free to decide to withdraw from the study at any point without it affecting your ongoing care.

Locations (1)

centre de réhabilitation - Hôpital le Vinatier
Verified postcode
Lyon, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is REFOCUS training?

REFOCUS is a special training programme for mental health staff to help them focus more on supporting patients' recovery and overall well-being.

Will I get different treatment if I join?

No, this study doesn't change your current medical treatment. It's about seeing if staff training improves the kind of care you receive.

Who is running this study?

This study is being conducted by researchers looking into how to make mental health services more effective.

How long does the study last?

The study aims to evaluate the effects of the training on patient recovery and care over one to two years.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your personal information will be kept confidential and used only for research purposes, following strict privacy rules.

How to find out more

Antoine SIMON

antoine.simon@ch-le-vinatier.fr 0033661521509 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.