What is the purpose of the research?

We want to find out whether an education programme designed for people with experience of psychosis or with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder is more likely to help reduce weight than usual information and advice provided by the NHS.

The group education programme has been successful in improving diet and physical activity for people with diabetes and those at risk of diabetes. We know that the programme can also be adapted for other patients but we do not yet know whether it can help people with psychosis and taking antipsychotic medication to lose weight. We know that taking antipsychotic medication can lead to weight gain and people taking these medications can find it more difficult to manage their weight.

Losing weight can help reduce the risk of developing health problems such as diabetes and heart disease in the future. Everyone who joins the study will continue to receive their usual treatment provided by their community mental health team. The education programme has been developed with the help of people with psychosis who want to lose weight. People with psychosis and a carer are also involved in the management of the study.

This study has now finished.

Access the paper via Sussex Research Online.

Further information and contact details:

Kathryn Greenwood (k.e.greenwood@sussex.ac.uk)