RecruitingInterventional

Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy for psychosis (PITp): a feasibility randomised controlled trial

This study is investigating a type of talking therapy called Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy for psychosis, or PITp. Psychosis can involve experiences like hearing voices or having unusual beliefs, and often includes emotional upset and problems with relationships. PITp is a supportive, limited-time therapy designed for people with psychosis. The study aims to find out if it's practical and helpful enough to run a bigger trial in the future. Adults aged 18 and over, who are already receiving NHS mental health care for psychosis in Greater Manchester and want therapeutic support, can take part. Some reasons might stop people from joining. Participants will either receive their usual NHS care or usual care plus the PITp therapy.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

Start

01 May 2026

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2027

Psychosis

What is this study about?

This study is looking into a talking therapy called Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy for psychosis, often shortened to PITp. When someone experiences psychosis, they might hear voices, have strong beliefs that others don't share, or feel very distressed and find relationships difficult. PITp is a gentle talking therapy, given over a set period, that has been changed to suit people going through psychosis. The main goal of this particular study is to see if it's possible and worthwhile to do a much larger study on PITp in the future. Think of this as a smaller, early step to gather information.

Taking part would mean you're helping us understand if this type of extra support could make a difference for people with psychosis. It's about finding better ways to help people cope with their experiences and feelings. The study will compare whether adding PITp to the usual care provided by the NHS is more helpful than receiving usual care alone.

This research is important because it could lead to new ways of supporting people with psychosis to improve their emotional well-being and relationships. By participating, you'd be contributing to knowledge that could benefit many others in the future.

Key takeaways

This study explores a talking therapy (PITp) for people with psychosis.
It aims to see if a larger study on PITp is a good idea.
Participants will get either usual NHS care, or usual care plusPITp.
It's for adults 18+ receiving NHS psychosis care in Greater Manchester.
Your usual NHS treatment will continue throughout the study.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for adults aged 18 or older who are currently receiving mental health care for psychosis from the NHS in Greater Manchester. It's important that you are actively looking for some kind of therapeutic help for a difficulty or concern you're facing, rather than just wanting to take part in research.

You wouldn't be able to join if you primarily have another serious mental health issue (like a severe alcohol or drug problem) that needs to be treated first. We also can't include you if you're already having another intense talking therapy or if your medication is due to change significantly right at the start of the study.

For safety and practical reasons, the study can't include anyone in a psychiatric intensive care unit, an acute hospital ward, or a secure forensic setting. You also need to be able to speak English well enough to take part in the therapy, and not have learning difficulties that would make it hard to complete questionnaires or engage with the therapy. If there's another important reason, like actively planning to harm yourself, that would prevent you from safely taking part, you wouldn't be able to join.

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 18 years old or older?
Do you get your mental health care for psychosis from NHS services in Greater Manchester?
Are you looking for therapeutic help for a current difficulty?
Are you able to speak and understand English well enough for therapy?
Are you not currently having another intensive individual talking therapy?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll first complete some questionnaires at the start of the study. Then, by chance, you'll be placed into one of two groups. One group will continue to receive their usual NHS care. The other group will receive their usual NHS care PLUS the PITp therapy.

If you're in the PITp group, you'll have up to 24 weekly therapy sessions over about 6 months. Each session typically lasts an hour. Throughout the study, your usual NHS care will continue as normal. After 6 months, everyone will complete the same questionnaires again. If you received PITp, you might also be invited for an optional interview to talk about your experiences with the therapy. The total time you're involved from start to finish will be at least 6 months.

Potential risks and benefits

If you receive PITp, a potential benefit is getting access to a specialised talking therapy that might not otherwise be available. This could help you with your emotional distress and relationship difficulties. However, talking about personal and difficult experiences can sometimes be upsetting. While serious harm is very rare, it's good to be aware that some sessions might bring up strong feelings. It's important to remember that your usual NHS care will continue throughout the study, regardless of which group you are in. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your usual care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Unverified
Manchester, England

Common questions

What is psychosis?

Psychosis refers to experiences like hearing voices, seeing things others don't, or having strong unusual beliefs. It often includes feeling distressed and having difficulties with relationships.

What is PITp?

PITp stands for Psychodynamic Interpersonal Therapy for psychosis. It's a supportive talking therapy, given for a limited time, that has been specially adapted for people experiencing psychosis.

Will I get this new therapy if I join?

You might. Participants are randomly assigned to either receive their usual NHS care or their usual care plus the PITp therapy. It's like flipping a coin to decide.

Where is this study happening?

This study is being run from the Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in the UK.

Who is paying for this research?

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in the UK.

How to find out more

Liz Murphy

elizabeth.murphy@gmmh.nhs.uk +44 (0)161 938 4568 Official trial record

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