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Contact Information:

Prof Mark Hayward
-
mark.hayward@spft.nhs.uk


More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.

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Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Support for young people who are distressed by hearing voices
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Support for young people who are distressed by hearing voices

Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Mixed

Worthing

Medical Conditions

Hearing voices

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Voice hearing experiences are commonly reported by children and can sometimes cause distress.
• We have developed and evaluated a coping intervention that seems to work well when delivered to children within Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
• We have also developed and evaluated an educational workshop within CAMHS for people who support children who hear voices, e.g., parents/carers.
• We want to explore the feasibility of offering the coping intervention and educational workshop within an intervention package in schools, where children can get earlier access to help.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of offering an intervention package in schools that will include:
• 1:1 sessions for the child
• An educational workshop for Plus-1s
• An educational workshop for school staff
This research will help us to make interventions as effective and as accessible as possible. We hope this will help give as many children as possible the best chance of receiving support when they are distressed by hearing voices.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

01 Jan 2024 31 Jul 2025

Publications

2025 Protocol article in https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40186222/ (added 19/05/2025)

The study has 4 phases:
• Phase 1 – groups of students, parents/carers and school staff will review and adapt the intervention package.
• Phase 2 – the adapted intervention package will be delivered to a different set of students, people nominated by the students (we call them ‘Plus-1s’) and school staff.
• Phase 3 – data will be collected from the people who received the intervention package in Phase 2. The analysis of this data will generate some findings.
• Phase 4 – the groups of students, parents/carers and school staff and who met in Phase 1 will meet again to review the findings from Phase 3.


The participants will include students within secondary schools and some of the people who support them.

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


Does not meet inclusion criteria


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
    Trust Hq Swandean Arundel Road
    Worthing
    BN13 3EP

Possible benefits:
• We have good reason to think that most children who receive the coping intervention will benefit, e.g., by being less upset by the voices they hear.
• We also have good reason to think the workshops will enable supporters and school staff to feel more confident about helping children who hear voices.
• However, we have only tested these interventions within CAMHS. That’s why we are carrying out this study, to see how the interventions need to be adapted for use in schools and if the interventions can be helpful in schools.
• By taking part, the participants will be helping us to adapt and test these interventions within the school environment.
• Some of the participants will be offered vouchers for taking part in the study.
Possible risks:
• There is a small chance that some of the discussions in the focus groups and intervention sessions/workshops might be upsetting for participants. If this happens, the researchers will help the participants to cope and will arrange any support required.

Prof Mark Hayward
-
mark.hayward@spft.nhs.uk



More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.


The study is sponsored by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and funded by NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF).



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What will you do next?
Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN16395888

Or CPMS 54353

Last updated 19 May 2025

This page is to help you find out about a research study and if you may be able to take part

You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.   

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