ARIES: App to support Recovery in Early Intervention Services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
App to support Recovery In Early Intervention Services (the ARIES study): Usability testing and pilot randomised controlled trial of a supported self-management smartphone application for psychosis
IRAS ID
182553
Contact name
Sonia Johnson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Despite the positive outcomes associated with Early Intervention Services, many people do not achieve functional recovery following EIS treatment, and 35-75% of people experience a relapse (further episode of psychosis). There is a need to extend the support available to EIS service users to promote recovery and reduce relapse.
Self-management programmes have been found to improve functional recovery and prevent further episodes of psychosis. Research suggests that self-management programmes delivered via the internet and mobile phones are acceptable for people with psychosis. Smartphones may be well suited for providing time-unlimited support with self-management in people’s everyday lives. Mental health support delivered via smartphone apps has been found to be acceptable, safe, and potentially beneficial for young people and adults with psychosis. However, no studies have evaluated a self-management app for people accessing EISs.
This study will test a self-management app for EIS service users. First, 6 EIS service user participants will test the usability of a sample of the app in a lab setting, which will enable us to improve the app design. Six participants will then be asked to use the improved app in their everyday lives with support from EIS staff. Participants’ feedback will enable further improvements to the app and the support provided. In the pilot study, 40 EIS service user participants will be allocated by chance to one of two groups. The treatment group will receive the supported app self-management programme in addition to their usual treatment. The control group will receive their usual treatment only.We will test whether the app self-management programme and our research methods are acceptable and feasible prior to a large trial. We will compare self-rated recovery, wellbeing, quality of life, psychosis symptoms, and service use between the two groups, to find out how many participants we need for a large trial.
REC name
London - Brent Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/1453
Date of REC Opinion
2 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion