RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

SloMo2: Implementation, Effectiveness, and Cost-effectiveness Study

Worries about harm from others, often called paranoia, are common and can be made worse by quick thinking. A digital therapy called SloMo helps people slow down these thoughts to feel safer. SloMo was developed with people who experience psychosis and has already been shown to reduce paranoia and improve well-being in a previous study. This new study, SloMo2, aims to see if this helpful therapy can be successfully delivered by NHS therapists in regular mental health services. Sixty therapists in three NHS trusts will be trained to provide SloMo to 150 people. The study will look at how well SloMo is used, if it helps people, and if it's cost-effective for the NHS. The goal is to make this effective therapy more widely available.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

King's College London

Enrolment target

150

Start

16 Oct 2024

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2027

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Affective Psychoses

What is this study about?

This study is about a new digital therapy called SloMo, designed to help people who experience worries that others might harm them (often called paranoia). While it's normal to have these thoughts occasionally, and to think quickly, for some, these worries and fast thinking can start to significantly impact their daily lives. The usual recommended talking therapy for this, called CBTp, isn't always easily available to everyone who needs it due to limited resources within the NHS. Even when it is available, it can sometimes be challenging to access and use effectively.

SloMo aims to overcome these issues. It's a therapy delivered with digital support, developed directly with input from people who experience psychosis, as well as designers and psychologists. It helps people recognise their worries and fast thinking habits, giving them tools to slow down and ultimately feel safer. Imagine your worries as 'spinning thought bubbles' – SloMo helps you slow those down with personalised tips and an app that provides helpful messages right when you need them. Earlier research has already shown SloMo to be safe and effective, reducing paranoia and improving confidence and overall well-being for participants over six months, compared to those receiving standard care.

Now, the crucial next step is to find out if SloMo can be successfully delivered by therapists working in standard NHS mental health services. This study will train 60 therapists across three NHS trusts to deliver an improved version of SloMo to 150 people. Researchers will carefully check how well it works, how people engage with it, if it's easy to use, and if it's safe. They'll also measure how much people's paranoia and well-being change before, immediately after, and 12 months after the therapy. The ultimate goal is that if SloMo proves to work well within routine NHS care, it can then be made much more widely available to more people across the country.

Key takeaways

SloMo is a digital therapy to help people manage worries about harm from others (paranoia).
It aims to help people slow down fast thinking and feel safer.
Previous research showed SloMo reduced paranoia and improved well-being.
This study evaluates if SloMo can be successfully delivered by NHS therapists.
If successful, SloMo could become more widely available through the NHS.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you would need to be an adult (18 years or older) and currently receiving support from specialist mental health services. You should have a diagnosis of psychosis, which includes conditions like schizophrenia or certain mood disorders. Most importantly, you would be seeking therapy specifically to help with worries that others might harm you.

There are also some reasons why you might not be able to participate. For example, if you are experiencing an immediate and serious risk to yourself or others, or if language difficulties would prevent you from fully engaging in the therapy. Similarly, if your primary challenges are due to alcohol or drug dependence, a learning disability, or a physical brain injury or illness that's causing your psychosis, then this study might not be the right fit 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 18 years old or older?
Do you currently receive support from specialist NHS mental health services?
Do you have a diagnosis of psychosis?
Are you hoping to get help with worries that others might harm you?
Are you comfortable engaging in therapy without significant language barriers?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you would receive the SloMo therapy delivered by an NHS therapist specially trained in SloMo. The therapy involves noticing your worries and fast thinking habits and using SloMo tips and an app to help you slow down. Before starting therapy, immediately after finishing, and then again 12 months later, you would be asked to complete some questionnaires to measure how your paranoia and well-being have changed. Your experiences with SloMo might also be explored through an interview. The total duration of your active involvement with the therapy and initial assessments would be over several months, with a final check-up at one year.

Potential risks and benefits

Participating in this study offers the potential benefit of accessing SloMo, a digital therapy that has previously shown promise in reducing paranoia and improving confidence and well-being. SloMo has been found to be safe, with no adverse effects linked to the software itself. However, as with any therapy, exploring difficult emotions could be challenging at times. Your involvement would help the NHS understand if this valuable therapy can be made more widely available. You are always free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this would not affect your ongoing medical care.

Locations (1)

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

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is paranoia?

Paranoia means having strong worries or fears that others might want to harm you or are plotting against you. These worries can sometimes be very upsetting and hard to manage.

What is SloMo?

SloMo is a digital therapy, partly delivered through an app, that teaches you to notice and slow down fast thoughts that can lead to worries about harm from others (paranoia). The aim is to help you feel safer.

Is SloMo new?

SloMo has been tested before and was found to be safe and helpful. This new study is about seeing if it can work effectively and safely when used by therapists in regular NHS mental health services.

What kind of therapy is SloMo?

SloMo is a type of talking therapy that uses digital support, focusing on cognitive techniques to help manage paranoid worries by slowing down unhelpful thought processes.

Will I have to pay for SloMo?

No, if you are invited to take part in this study, the SloMo therapy would be provided through the NHS as part of the research, so there would be no cost to you.

How to find out more

Kathryn M Taylor

kathryn.taylor@kcl.ac.uk 07876876164 Official trial record

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