Psychological predictors of distress and mechanisms of change
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating psychological predictors of distress and mechanisms of change in mental health treatment in adolescents
IRAS ID
291852
Contact name
Matthias Schwannauer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Mentalization is the awareness that we have of our own and other people’s thoughts and feelings and the ability to use this information to understand others' behaviour. It is something that most people are able to do intuitively. A reduced ability to mentalize is implicated in the development and maintenance of mental health (MH) difficulties. In addition to this, the coping styles we use in response to difficult events are associated with MH difficulties.
This research aims to examine how mentalization and the use of different coping styles are associated with levels of everyday distress experienced by adolescents receiving support their MH. It aims to look at whether there are changes in mentalization and coping styles associated with treatment in CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) and whether this is linked to reduced distress. It will also look at the impact of the covid-19 pandemic and the transition out of lockdown on MH and treatment outcomes in adolescents. This age group has been chosen as adolescence is a time when the majority of MH difficulties first arise. Optimising treatment in this age group is essential.
Adolescents aged between 12-18 who are receiving treatment from CAMHS and are willing and able to consent will be recruited from outpatient CAMHS teams in the NHS Lothian Health Board. They will be asked to complete questionnaires on MH, mentalization and coping. They will also be asked to complete a short questionnaire on how they are feeling and what they're doing 8 times a day for a week. This will take place in their everyday lives using an app on their mobile phone. They will be asked to participate in another round of data collection at the end of their treatment and again at a 2 year follow up.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
21/ES/0043
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jun 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion