The Sussex Psychosis Research interest Group (SPRiG) incorporates clinical and academic researchers within the University of Sussex, Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The SPRiG group is part of the Clinical and Developmental research group at the University of Sussex.

Current research includes the contribution of genetics, neuroimaging, psychological processes, health and social contexts to psychosis and well-being outcomes; the development of new psychological therapies, including third wave CBT and computer-based therapies; understanding and addressing childrens’ and adolescents’ attitudes to psychosis, to promote positive non-stigmatising schema; and earlier engagement in help seeking.

We host SPRiG seminars throughout the year online through Zoom. These seminars are always on the last Wednesday of the month at 4-5pm. 

Next seminar: 

24th September at 4 - 5pm with Dr Tom Ward:

"Digital AVATAR therapy for distressing voices in psychosis: the phase2/3 AVATAR2 trial"

Distressing voices are common in psychosis, and existing treatments are currently suboptimal; as such, new effective treatments for distressing voices are needed. AVATAR therapy is an innovative approach which involves voice-hearers engaging in a series of facilitated dialogues with a digital embodiment of their distressing voice. The talk will describe the therapy and present the methods and results of the AVATAR2 trial. The trial was a large multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing two versions of the therapy, AVATAR-Brief and AVATAR-Extended, with Treatment as Usual, and the main findings were published in Nature Medicine https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-024-03252-8

Join Zoom link:

https://universityofsussex.zoom.us/j/99645934356?pwd=nildHh9TtFrkxsJ4VLcxRXCjwHx6wj.1