The WELLFOCUS Study investigated wellbeing and psychosis, and was conducted at King’s College London from 2011 until 2016. It was funded by a grant from Guy’s and Thomas’ Charity (reference G101016).
The WELLFOCUS study was informed by positive psychology (here), and based on the understanding of wellbeing in mental health which has changed over time (here). We reviewed determinants of hope (here), and then developed a conceptual framework for understanding wellbeing in psychosis (here) and how wellbeing changes over time (here). We interviewed mental health staff to investigate how they viewed wellbeing for themselves and the people they worked with (here). We then modified an existing positive psychology intervention – Positive Psychotherapy – for use in psychosis (here), and published the resulting WELLFOCUS Manual and translations (here). Novel components of the intervention include forgiveness (here) and therapist self-disclosure (here).
We tested this new intervention in a randomised controlled trial, based on a published protocol (here). The trial results indicated the intervention had a positive impact on symptoms (here), and included a process evaluation to understand how the intervention was experienced (here). The intervention is being modified for use in mental health in-patient settings (here).
The intervention was revised in the light of findings, and published as a finalised treatment manual called Positive Psychotherapy for Psychosis (here). The intervention has also been evaluated in a randomised controlled trial in Hong Kong, showing benefits for wellbeing, hope and self-efficacy (here). Findings from WELLFOCUS and other recovery and wellbeing studies were synthesised in a scholarly edited book (here).