The Power Threat Meaning Framework and the understanding of psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Power Threat Meaning Framework and the understanding of psychosis.
IRAS ID
319009
Contact name
Susannah Colbert
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Salomons Institute, Canterbury Christchurch University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 24 days
Research summary
The project aims to see what impact, if any, the use of a power threat meaning framework (PTMF) formulation meeting has on staff and service users understanding of psychosis. Understanding how staff view psychosis has implications for clinical practice as it may impact how they care for their clients and where they may or may not signpost or refer them to for additional support. For example, if a team fails to consider what has happened to the client and only focuses on their present difficulties there may be a reduced number of referrals to psychology. Furthermore, understanding how an individual may view their own difficulties and if this is impacted following staff discussions focused on how to better support them in line with the PTMF or if they have noticed a change in their treatment is important for clinical practice. If a client has only had a biomedical understanding of their difficulties explained to them, they may be less reluctant to engage in trauma focused care due to thinking it is irrelevant for a biological disorder.
Following a literature search and a consultation with Lucy Johnston (the pioneer of the PTMF), no research was found to have investigated the benefits of a PTMF formulation within community mental health teams. However, a recent research study found benefits of using the PTMF as a formulation in an inpatient setting (Nikopaschos & Burrell, in publication). Findings included less restraints and seclusion measures being used, clients reporting the approach supporting them to learn new and helpful ways of managing their mental health and staff developing a better understanding of the relationship between trauma and distress. This study is due to be published shortly.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0251
Date of REC Opinion
23 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion