NIHRDataInsights/HRCSData huggingface dataset:
Title: Developing a measure of social understanding for 15- 24-year-olds that is appropriate, fair, valid, and theoretically motivated.
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: Background Mindreading is important for social and mental wellbeing, but we lack psychometrically robust measures of mindreading that are sensitive and meaningful for young people. Co-production of stimuli We will use story-exchange workshops to devise and curate stimuli in collaboration with young people, ensuring that the test stimuli are meaningful for participants, and giving young people themselves authority over how they should be interpreted. Psychometric approach In developing a new task we will select test stimuli that optimise measurement, and establish: the specificity with which we are measuring mindreading; measurement invariance (test "fairness") for different groups of people; repeatability, and longer-term stability of measurement; validity for predicting social wellbeing and mental health. Theory Current theories do not adequately account for mindreading variation in this age range. We will test the novel hypothesis that a participant's flexibility to mindread a range of people and situations is the critical source of variability. Samples of young people aged 15-24 will be tested in schools/colleges and online, with deliberate over-sampling in some demographic categories to ensure statistical power to establish measurement invariance. Analysis approaches We will use latent variable modelling, implemented in Mplus, to test theoretically-motivated hypotheses about the covariance structure of our data. We will adapt "representational similarity analysis" approaches from cognitive neuroscience to characterise the multidimensional similarity of research participants and the authors of our test stimuli. To make our new task truly accessible we will use our data to train and test a machine-learning natural-language processor to automatically code responses. The resulting coder will be openly available, and will relieve future researchers of the need to manually code thousands of responses.


Research activity codes: 1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROCESSES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: CO-PRODUCING A FRAMEWORK OF GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR ENGAGING REPRESENTATIVE AND DIVERSE COHORTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN MENTAL HEALTH
Funder: Medical Research Council

Abstract: Existing adolescent cohorts are well-characterised in terms of psychosocial measures and mental health data, but lack an equivalent richness of biological measures, especially from ethnically and socio-economically diverse groups. In this two-year project, co-led and co-managed with young people, we will use a participatory approach with young people (11 to 18 years), teachers, parents, community health practitioners, key community advocates, UK funding bodies and academics involved in conducting biological research in adolescents, to co-produce a Framework of Guiding Principles as a tool that operationalises young people's and stakeholders' preferred approach for successfully engaging in biological research in mental health. We will answer this question by addressing three main aims that will be delivered across five interlinked Work-packages (WP): Aim 1) Discover needs, barriers and facilitators, with a scoping review (WP1) and focus groups (WP2); Aim 2) Define and Develop the Framework, by co-producing, in iterative workshops with expert young people, a draft Framework (WP3); Aim 3) Deliver the Framework, by evaluating and finalising the final Framework through a Delphi consensus process with young people and key stakeholders (parents, teachers, community practitioners, key community advocates, funders and researchers) (WP4), and disseminate the resulting Framework to researchers and other end-users for initial implementation testing (WP5), including the preparation for immediate adoption by the Born in Bradford study, in their next wave of biological data collection in 2024. This methodological tool will help researchers identify key questions to be addressed when presenting the study to young people, and how to successfully involve and engage this age group, their parents/carers and school staff in biological research in mental health.


Research activity codes: 1.2 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC PROCESSES;7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Context-Aware Multimodal Pervasive Sensing (CAMPS) of behaviour in daily life
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: OCOsense are sensor-enabled glasses that measure behavioural parameters including physical movements and facial expressions which could be mapped to clinical outcomes (digital phenotyping). OCOsense was developed for facial paralysis rehabilitation (NIHR i4i PDA, FRAME: ref: II-LA-0814-20008). After project completion, NICE highlighted the service could address an unmet patient need for remote monitoring of condition change and relapse in depression and bipolar disorders through passive detection of: (i) facial expression derived mood (ii) difficulties performing Activities of Daily Living (ADL). OCOsense is uniquely suited to ecologically valid measurement. Unlike existing tools that are worn on the wrist or carried in a pocket, OCOsense is worn on the face, making it superior at detecting ADL-congruent motion in artificial conditions [1,2]. However, follow-up tests found that algorithms trained in a room used to mimic a house, perform poorly in a real home environment. This is because navigating and performing actions in a house requires a behavioural repertoire challenging to simulate artificially. For example, navigating from room to room requires stop-start activities which are difficult to replicate in a laboratory. Collecting data in a house is a challenge because ground-truth annotation requires continuous video recording from multiple external cameras as volunteers perform and transition between activities. The proposed feasibility study directly addresses this with an existing house designed for camera-based monitoring provided by the University of West England (UWE) [3]. Before we can test the potential utility of OCOsense as a clinical monitoring tool we must first answer the question &ldquo;is possible to detect behaviours related to ADL in a home using head-mounted sensors?&rdquo;. CAMPs provide for a fast fail. If the answer is &ldquo;yes&rdquo;, proof of concept is demonstrated and OCOsense is suitable for further investment. If the answer is &ldquo;no&rdquo;, further development for this suggested use-case stops.


Research activity codes: 4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Developing biologically relevant prediction models for individual patients with First Episode Psychosis using machine learning.
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Psychosis is an illness manifest by unusual or muddled thoughts and hearing voices. Psychosis is the fifth leading UK cause of disability among working age adults. Meaningful recovery is more than treating symptoms but includes positive quality of life, social and functional outcomes. At a group level, we know factors like duration of untreated psychosis are associated with worse outcomes. However, we struggle to predict who will do well at an individual level. An advanced statistical technique called machine learning has the potential to revolutionise medicine by predicting individual outcome. No study has applied a machine learning model to new patients with psychosis in a clinical setting. Information about the disease process, like inflammation and glutamate levels, may improve performance. Inflammation protects us from infections but sometimes it can be damaging. People with psychosis can have increased levels of inflammation. Glutamate is a chemical in the brain which helps nerve cells communicate. Abnormalities of glutamate relate to psychosis. Can I use machine learning to predict individual outcome in psychosis, including new patients, in a clinical setting? I hope my research will lead to a personalised approach to care, maximising available resources, with considerable benefit to patients.


Research activity codes: 4.1 DISCOVERY AND PRECLINICAL TESTING OF MARKERS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Accelerating the development of a psychological intervention to support treatment decision-making capacity in psychosis: Feasibility of an Umbrella trial.
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Clinicians are legally and ethically obliged to respect patients’ autonomy and the decisions they make about their treatment, unless they lack “capacity” for such decision making. In the last 10 years in Scotland, people with psychosis have been judged to lack ‘capacity’ on at least 22,000 occasions. Where capacity is lacking clinicians are obliged to support its return/retention, so they can take part in decision making and avoid involuntary treatment. However, there are no effective and acceptable psychological interventions available to help them do this in practice. This project will test the feasibility of using innovative ‘Umbrella’ trial methodology to both confirm the causes of their impaired treatment decision-making capacity and accelerate the development of an effective intervention. The results will help transform the care of people with psychosis. Demonstrating the feasibility of our proposed methodology would also help to accelerate the development of interventions for other mental health problems


Research activity codes: 5.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: An implementation science evaluation of Scotland's first Heroin Assisted Treatment facility.
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Heroin assisted treatment (HAT) is the provision of prescribed heroin under medical supervision. Clinical trials have shown that HAT is effective in reducing illicit drug use, criminal activity, and improving the health and wellbeing of patients who have not responded well to traditional treatments such as opioid pharmacotherapy (OPT), e.g. methadone. Little is known about how best to implement HAT in the real world, out with a clinical trial setting. Furthermore, no HAT services currently exist in Scotland or the UK, despite being recommended in clinical guidelines. We will conduct a mixed methods study to understand the barriers and facilitators to implementing Scotland’s first HAT service, exploring the views and experiences of service users and providers, and other key stakeholders. These findings will be used, along with expert views gathered from those delivering HAT services in other countries, to develop a service manual that will guide the establishment, development and maintenance of HAT services across the UK and beyond.


Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: A systems approach to exploring syndemic health and social condition clustering among individuals who experience a drug-related death: developmental work for co-produced intervention(s).
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Drug-related deaths (DRDs) in Scotland are at an all-time high, having increased markedly in the past decade. An ageing population of drug users, alongside the existence of multiple co-occurring health conditions, are proposed as contributing factors. However, little is known about multimorbidity in this group. This study aims to increase understanding of commonly co-occurring conditions, prescriptions, and concurrent social factors that may play a role in DRDs, and explore opportunities for action. Statistical analysis of all DRDs will explore health and social condition clustering. We will facilitate a stakeholder workshop series, with those with professional and lived-experience of drug use. The workshops will follow a structured process, drawing on established methodology. The statistical analysis and workshop series are integrated; workshops will both inform the statistical analysis and then use its findings to develop ways forward. The aim of the workshops is to discuss the problem, taking account of the wider context surrounding DRD, to identify potential opportunities to intervene e.g. where problematic combinations of health and social conditions are identified, and decide what further data analysis and development work is required to progress to testing an intervention(s). This study will provide new evidence on the substantial problem of DRDs.


Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Developing an Intervention to Manage Benzodiazepine Dependence and High Risk Use in the Context of Escalating Drug Related Deaths: A feasibility study
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Scotland has the highest rate of drug related deaths (DRD) in Europe. These are deaths in people who use drugs such as heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids. It is a feature of deaths in Scotland that people use combinations of drugs which increases the chance of a DRD. Many deaths involve ‘street’ benzodiazepines (BZD), especially a drug called etizolam. This is not licenced in the UK so comes from illegal sources. People who use opiates can be prescribed a safer replacement drug (e.g. methadone). Guidance on management of benzodiazepine use highlights that there is little evidence to support replacement prescribing. However, evidence is conflicting. This study will test a new intervention, designed by consulting people who use ‘street’ BZD and clinicians. The intervention will likely be a combination of prescribing and psychosocial support. The process of designing the exact intervention will be done in workshops. The workshops will include people across a range of relevant experience (clinical, psychology, academic, people with experience). The intervention will be tested in 50 people across three sites in Scotland. Questionnaires and interviews will be used to assess whether the intervention is feasible. This study will help the research team plan a further trial of the intervention with more people to see if it is effective at reducing harm


Research activity codes: 3.1 PRIMARY PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS TO MODIFY BEHAVIOURS OR PROMOTE WELL-BEING
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Psychological Interventions for Complex PTSD And Schizophrenia-Spectrum disOrder (PICASSO)
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Psychosis is a highly distressing mental health condition, affecting up to 3% of the population. Conceptually, it has much in common with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), a recently introduced condition in ICD-11. Both involve negative self-esteem, impaired emotion regulation ability, interpersonal difficulties and intrusive trauma-related experiences (i.e. intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares). Both have been causally related to childhood trauma, such as abuse, neglect and loss. The current project will examine the feasibility of conducting an ‘Umbrella trial’ to test whether CPTSD is causally related to psychosis, and develop more effective trauma-focused psychological interventions for psychotic symptoms by treating underlying experiences of/reactions to trauma. An Umbrella trial involves running several individual randomised controlled trials concurrently. In this study, each trial will test whether psychological interventions designed to reduce different CPTSD symptoms cause improvements in psychotic symptoms. If we can establish feasibility of this Umbrella trial, and if a definitive version shows that interventions for CPTSD also reduce psychosis, then this would be a breakthrough in both the conceptualisation and treatment of psychosis which will help transform the care of people with psychosis. Demonstrating the feasibility of our proposed methodology would also help to accelerate the development of interventions for other mental health problems.


Research activity codes: 6.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Using foil for drug administration: exploring the views and experience of people who use drugs.
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: Drugs, such as heroin and crack cocaine, can be smoked by inhaling the smoke produced by heating the drug on a piece of aluminium foil. Since 2014, foil has been provided by harm reduction services in Scotland to encourage smoking as a safer alternative to injecting. Smoking significantly reduces drug-related harms such as overdose and the transmission of infectious diseases. Though other health complications may arise. Since foil was first provided by injecting equipment provision (IEP) services, the uptake has increased by over 100% in a few years. Yet, little is known about its use. This study will explore the views of people attending IEP services about their experience of accessing foil; their use or non-use of foil; and its use among their drug using networks. We will conduct qualitative interviews with service users in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to understand how and for what drugs foil is used, what benefits and harms they experience with its use, whether injecting practices have changed as a result and reasons for not smoking drugs with foil. We are interested in hearing their views on the potential of foil as a harm reduction intervention for reducing drug-related infections, overdoses and deaths in order to inform policy and practice.


Research activity codes: 3.2 INTERVENTIONS TO ALTER PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Understanding mental health and substance use service utilisation by people released from prison: A mixed-methods study
Funder: Chief Scientist Office, Scotland

Abstract: In Scotland about 15,000 people are released from prison each year. They are more likely than other people to die by suicide, drug overdose, and illnesses linked to mental health and substance use (drugs/alcohol). This suggests they are not getting the right help in the community, including from NHS services. This study has two parts. Part One will help us understand if and how people released from prison use NHS services for mental health and substance use. In Part Two we will explore the reasons for using services this way. Part One. How much do people released from prison use NHS services for mental health and substance use? To answer this, we will use anonymised NHS data (data with personal details removed). We will compare people released from prison to people who have not been in prison and look at differences based on sex, age, and local area. For people released from prison, we will consider other characteristics too (e.g. ethnicity). Part Two. Why do people released from prison use NHS services the way they do, or why don’t they use NHS services? To answer this, we will share results from Part One with small groups of people with expertise, and discuss their views of why this might be. Groups will include people who have experienced prison, and people who have worked in health and justice in different roles. People with prison experience are involved in all stages, including on the project team and in the Lived Experience Advisory Panel


Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH
Title: Gparts - Marianne Tinkler - Co-design of an evidenced informed logic model of integrated palliative care for persons living with a severe mental illness.
Funder: Public Health Agency, NI

Abstract: Background. People with severe mental illness have greater mortality risk than the general population, experience health care inequalities throughout life and represent a vulnerable, under-served and under-treated population who have been overlooked in health inequality research to date. There is currently a dearth of evidence in relation to understanding the palliative care needs of people with severe mental illness and how future care delivery can be designed to both recognise and respond to those needs. Aim. This study aims to co-design an evidenced informed logic model of integrated palliative care for persons living with a severe mental illness.Methods. This qualitative sequential study underpinned by interpretivism will have six phases. An expert reference group will be established (Phase 1) to inform all stages of this study. Phase 2 will include a systematic literature review to synthesise current evidence in relation to palliative care service provision for people with severe mental illness. In Phase 3 qualitative interviews will be undertaken with both, patients who have a severe mental illness and are in receipt of palliative care (n=13) and, bereaved caregivers of people who have died 6–18 months previously with a diagnosis of severe mental illness (n=13), across two recruitment sties (Belfast Trust and Northern Trust). Focus groups (n=4) with both mental health and palliative care multidisciplinary staff will be undertaken across the two recruitment sites (Belfast Trust and Northern Trust) in Phase 4. Phase 5 will involve the co-design of a logic model and Phase 6 will develop practice recommendations. Implications. Reducing inequalities experienced by people with severe mental illness is embedded in the National Health Service Long Term Plan. Thus, future policy and practice will benefit from understanding the needs of this client cohort and the development of a co-designed integrated care pathway to facilitate timely access to generalist palliative care and referrals to specialist palliative care for patients with severe mental illness.


Research activity codes: 7.2 END OF LIFE CARE
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH