What is the purpose of this study?

UPDATE: We closed to referrals for this study in Autumn 2023 and it is now in follow up. Thank you to everyone who considered taking part and referred to the trial.

Some people have distressing experiences linked with psychosis. These experiences can sometimes be associated with troublesome mental images (e.g. seeing a picture in the “mind’s eye” or something similar to a “flashback” where unpleasant past events reappear in the mind. The aim of this study is to find out whether an imagery focused therapy for people with distressing experiences of psychosis may be useful to people with experiences of psychosis who have pictures in their head or “mind’s eye” and negative beliefs about the self and others. This study is to test if is feasible to undertake a clinical trial of an imagery focused therapy for psychosis, called iMAPS.

The study will involve taking part in 12 sessions of imagery focused therapy with a therapist to help you understand and manage distressing images and any psychotic experiences you might have (e.g. worried others mean you harm, hearing voices others cannot hear, unusual beliefs that others do not share).

We are currently only open to referrals in Greater Manchester in the boroughs of Bury, Oldham, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside & Glossip for service users who are under the care of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust.

If you would like more information, please contact us on:

Bukunmi Babatunde, Research Assistant

Amy Beech, Research Assistant

0161 253 7661 pcn-tr.psychosisresearch@nhs.net

Dr Christopher Taylor, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Hon Senior Lecturer