CONNECT is a study that uses digital technology to determine whether a decline in a person’s mental health can be detected in advance through digital technology. Image People from all walks of life can experience psychosis. Psychosis can involve a range of experiences such as hearing voices, feeling suspicious around others, or having confused thinking. Sometimes, these experiences can become distressing and get in the way of living a fulfilling life. People who experience psychosis can encounter changes in their activity levels, sleep pattern and getting out and about just before they become unwell or experience a relapse. For example, a person who is feeling very anxious or low might not feel like socialising much. They might stay at home more than usual, phone their friends less, sleep less and experience other changes. In CONNECT, we want to see how changes in behaviours and patterns might relate to someone’s mental health getting worse. In the future, it might be possible to tell in advance when someone’s mental health might be getting better or worse by looking at these changes and offering extra support at the time it is needed. The study comprises of two parts: A qualitative study of people with lived experience of psychosis and NHS staff views such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and nurses, views about digital remote monitoring systems and their potential for use in managing severe mental health problems A cohort study in which we aim to explore if it is possible to use electronic devices to predict if a person will have a relapse of psychosis. Work Package 1 (WP1)The first work package is conducting qualitative interviews looking at people’s views on how using technology such as smartphones and wearable devices, e.g. Fitbits, can help manage mental health. We want to speak with NHS clinical staff, such as nurse, psychiatrists, and psychologists, as well as people with lived experience of psychosis. The purpose of WS1 is to speak to people with a wide range of experience using technology, including people who already use a smartphone or wearable device, as well as people who don’t. This understanding forms the preparatory work for data collection in Work Package 2. Work Package 2 (WP2)The second work package is a large study across multiple sites. The aim is to recruit approximately 1100 people who have recently experienced psychosis. These participants will be recruited from London, Sussex, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Participants in the study will use a smartphone and a wearable device (like a Fitbit or smartwatch) and download the CONNECT app. Through the app, we will ask people to answer a short set of questions a few times a week about their thoughts and feelings. We will also collect information automatically (without participants needing to do anything) using sensors which are built into all modern smartphones and the wearable device. This information will be about things like a person’s general movements, sleep and activity levels. From this information, we will be able to work out if changes in sleep or activity levels, for example, might be a sign of someone becoming unwell. The CONNECT study is funded by The Wellcome Trust and is taking place across six UK sites (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff, London and Sussex). We have partnered with the charity The McPin Foundation to involve people with lived experience of psychosis throughout the study. Find out moreCheck out our blogGet in touchMeet the TeamProfessor Matthias Schwannauer (PI) Dr. Laura Maclean, Research Co-ordinator Dr. Natalie Chalmers, Research Co-ordinator Jennifer Ward, Research Assistant Erica Niebauer, Research Assistant
