For people with schizophrenia, stressful events can lead to relapse, admission to hospital and often high doses of neuroleptic medication. Adverse side effects are common.
Many people continue to suffer distress associated with hallucinations and delusions.
Newer approaches to working with people with psychosis have emerged recently. The project aims to train psychiatric nurses working on acute admission wards to use specific cognitive behavioural interventions with patients. The expected outcomes include a reduction in distress and the promotion of rapid recovery from psychosis which will facilitate shorter inpatient stays. The first phase of the project is underway at St Clements Hospital, Mile End, London. The work will be extended to other sites in the East End of London in the later stages of the project.