A Pilot Study of the Peer Supported Family Intervention, Psychosis Recovery by Enabling Adult Carers at Home (Psychosis-REACH) in an Early Psychosis Clinic.

OBJECTIVE

Psychosis REACH (p-REACH) is a co-produced, bichronous (hybrid synchronous and asynchronous) Family Intervention for psychosis that leverages a direct-to-family delivery model to enhance access. We aimed to assess the effect, feasibility and acceptability of the p-REACH core training when combined with longitudinal, family peer-delivered support in an early psychosis setting.

METHOD: After completing the p-REACH core training, caregiver participants (N = 20) engaged in monthly peer and clinician co-led coaching groups for 6 months to support skill development and met with a peer with lived experience of caring for a loved one with psychosis twice a month for the course of the intervention. We assessed depression, anxiety, expressed emotion, perceptions of carer burden and attitudes towards psychosis at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention, the latter of which coincided with the end of the coaching period.

RESULTS

The intervention, combined with ongoing peer facilitated group and individual family support, had a positive impact on all carers' outcomes, except depression which was subthreshold at baseline.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the feasibility and acceptability of the p-REACH intervention in an early psychosis clinic and demonstrates the positive impact of teaching CBTp-informed skills to caregivers on both carer and service user outcomes. Further randomised controlled studies are needed to fully assess the key components and impact of this intervention.