The Early Intervention Mission, a UK-wide study, is dedicated to improving the early identification, monitoring, and personalised care for those experiencing a first episode of psychosis. This condition can manifest through symptoms such as hallucinations, hearing voices, thought disturbances, and delusions.
This significant cohort study is a collaborative effort involving multiple universities and NHS Trusts across the United Kingdom. It is being led by Professor Graham Murray, a consultant psychiatrist at CPFT and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.
“"This research will help us understand who is at risk of early psychosis and how best to target preventative treatment and tailor personalised mental health care to meet their needs. Working with expert colleagues across the UK, we’re on a mission to use new digital technologies, electronic health records and genetic data to improve care and treatment, and support recovery. Effective early intervention can give people a much better quality of life."
The study has expanded its reach with support from the national Mental Health Goals programme. It aims to recruit up to 7,500 individuals in the early stages of psychosis, alongside approximately 500 healthy control participants. To facilitate recruitment nationwide, eligible individuals identified through health service records will be invited to participate remotely via NHS England’s DigiTrials service. Where appropriate, initial research visits may involve providing blood or saliva samples and completing questionnaires and cognitive tasks. Participants diagnosed with psychosis will be followed up every six months for up to three years using digital questionnaires focusing on mood, symptoms, medication, and quality of life.
The collected data, encompassing clinical information, biological samples, and self-reported experiences, will be securely stored within the Mental Health Mission Trusted Research Environment. Researchers will leverage this resource to investigate factors such as immune markers, genetics, and social experiences, aiming to deepen the understanding of psychosis development and enhance recovery support. The study's design has been informed by individuals with lived experience, with the goal of establishing a long-term, representative resource to aid future clinical trials, personalised treatment tools, and innovative approaches to treating early psychosis.
The Early Intervention Mission is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration. For those interested in participating with CPFT, the research team can be contacted at eim@cpft.nhs.uk.
