Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

A Case Series of Culturally-adapted CBTp for Black People in the UK

This study is investigating a specific type of talking therapy called "culturally-adapted cognitive behavioural therapy" (CBT-p) for Black people in the UK who are experiencing psychosis or similar conditions. The main aim is to see if this adjusted therapy is useful, acceptable, and safe for Black Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean individuals. Participants will answer some questions before and after therapy, attend up to 16 therapy sessions, and share their thoughts on the experience. We want to understand what makes this therapy suitable and effective for different cultural backgrounds, ultimately helping improve support for people with psychosis.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Manchester

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jan 2026

Estimated completion

01 Dec 2026

Psychosis Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

What is this study about?

This study focuses on a specific type of talking therapy, called culturally-adapted cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT-p), for Black people in the UK who are experiencing thought problems like psychosis or conditions similar to schizophrenia. CBT-p is a way of talking through your thoughts and feelings to help you understand and cope better with your experiences. 'Culturally-adapted' means the therapy has been carefully adjusted to consider cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences, making it more relevant and helpful for Black Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean individuals.

The main aim of this study is to find out if this adjusted therapy is practical to offer, comfortable for people to take part in, and safe for them. This is important because mental health services need to be suitable for everyone, and sometimes therapies developed in one cultural setting might not work as well in another without some changes. By understanding this, we can improve how mental health support is given.

Taking part would involve answering some questionnaires about how you are feeling at the start, attending up to 16 therapy sessions, and then answering the same questionnaires again afterwards to see if anything has changed. You would also have an interview to share your thoughts and experiences about the therapy. Your feedback is really valuable in helping us learn how to provide the best possible care.

Key takeaways

This study explores a culturally-adjusted talking therapy for Black people with psychosis in the UK.
It aims to see if this therapy is practical, comfortable, and safe.
Participants will have up to 16 therapy sessions and complete questionnaires.
The therapy is specially adapted to respect cultural backgrounds.
Your contribution could help improve future mental health services for others.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be at least 16 years old. You should identify as Black British, Black Caribbean, Black African, African-Caribbean, or Mixed African/Caribbean, with at least one parent or grandparent from a Sub-Saharan African or Caribbean country. You also need to have a diagnosis of a condition like schizophrenia or be receiving support from a team that helps people with early psychosis. It's important that you can understand English well enough to take part fully in the study and the therapy sessions.

There are some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if your mental health issues are mainly caused by drug or alcohol use, or if they're due to a physical medical condition. You also can't join if you're currently in a mental health crisis, like being in hospital under the Mental Health Act, or if there's an immediate high risk to yourself or others. If you're already having this type of CBT-p, or had it very recently (in the last three months), or if you're not willing to have the culturally-adapted CBT-p, then this study isn't for you.

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 at least 16 years old?
Do you identify as Black British, Black Caribbean, Black African, African-Caribbean, or Mixed African/Caribbean, with family ties to Sub-Saharan Africa or the Caribbean?
Do you have a diagnosis of a condition like schizophrenia or receive support for early psychosis?
Can you understand spoken and written English well enough to participate?
Are you not currently in a mental health crisis (e.g., not in hospital under the Mental Health Act)?
Have you not received similar talking therapy for psychosis in the last three months?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you will first need to fill out some questionnaires to describe how you are feeling and what your current experiences are. You will then have up to 16 sessions of the special culturally-adapted talking therapy. These sessions will be spread out over a period of time, and the therapist will work with you to decide the best schedule. After your therapy sessions are complete, you'll be asked to fill out the same questionnaires again so we can see if your experiences and feelings have changed. Finally, you'll have a casual chat (a semi-structured interview) where you can share what you thought about the therapy, what you expected, and how it felt for you. There is no medication involved in this study. The total duration of your participation will depend on how quickly you complete your therapy sessions and follow-up interviews, but it will likely be a few months.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could offer you the benefit of receiving up to 16 sessions of a culturally-adapted talking therapy that might help you manage your experiences with psychosis. You'll also be contributing valuable information that could improve mental health support for others. As with any therapy, discussing personal experiences can sometimes feel difficult or bring up uncomfortable feelings, but the therapists are trained to support you. There's also the time commitment involved for questionnaires and sessions. Remember, taking part is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your care or your relationship with your healthcare team.

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
Verified postcode
Manchester, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is 'psychosis'?

Psychosis describes experiences where someone's thoughts and perceptions are different from what's real, such as hearing or seeing things others don't, or having unusual beliefs.

What is 'culturally-adapted CBT-p'?

It's a type of talking therapy that has been adjusted to fit the cultural backgrounds and experiences of Black Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean people, making it more helpful and relevant for them.

Will I have to take any medication?

No, this study is about therapy sessions and does not involve taking any new medications.

How long will each therapy session be?

The length of each therapy session can vary, but they are typically around 50-60 minutes long.

Is my privacy protected in this study?

Yes, all your information will be kept confidential and used only for research purposes, with strict privacy measures in place.

How to find out more

Peter Panayi

peter.panayi@manchester.ac.uk +44161 306 6000 Official trial record

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