What are we trying to do?

This study is co-developing (with service-users, carers, and mental health professionals), a feasible and acceptable non-pharmacological (non-medication) support package to enhance self-management of antipsychotic-induced hunger.

 

 

Why is it important?

In 2015, as part of the NIHR CLAHRC GM funding award, the team ran a research prioritisation event with service users, carers, and health professionals which highlighted antipsychotic related hunger as an important issue for those taking the medications. Whilst mental health professionals were largely focused on weight-gain, service users identified the underlying issue of hunger side effects as their research priority, with most receiving little help and support in managing this issue.

 

Service user participants taking antipsychotics reported an "insatiable" hunger, that feels different from normal hunger, and that is really difficult for them to manage. They report challenges in "listening to your body" that makes it difficult to know when to stop eating. They also report that they receive little help and support from services in managing this issue and they would welcome a package of support.

 

 

How are we doing it?

The SUSTAIN study consists of 3 main phases:

 

Examine - In phase one (1-12 months) we found out all we could about the current evidence base via a review of the literature on antipsychotic medication and eating behaviours. We also, before embarking on a systematic review of non-medication interventions and/or support to manage antipsychotic-induced hunger. We also explored people’s experiences of antipsychotic-induced hunger, via:

• a national survey
• interviews with service users
• focus groups with carers and mental health professionals.

 

Co-develop - In phase two, we co-designed a non-pharmacological support package based on the learning from phase one. We worked with our Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), that we specifically recruited to support this study, to agree the main components of the support package. We also ran workshops to include other service users and carers, as well as mental health professionals, to co-design and draft resources for the support package.

 

Pilot – In phase three we will finalise the design and content of the support-package, and we will then pilot test the support package to see whether it is acceptable and feasible to service users and mental health professionals in Early Intervention in Psychosis services.

 

We worked with our LEAP to co-design the content of the national survey, the interview and focus group topic guides, to inform the readability of our participant-facing study documents, and to sense-check the findings of our systematic review and of our interview and focus group findings. We then worked with the LEAP to agree the core components of the support-package. We will also work with the LEAP to make sense of the findings from our pilot-testing.

 

 

Who are we working with?

• Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
• University of Manchester
• Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust
• Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust 
• South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust 

 

 

Downloadable resources

 

 

Funding

This study was funded using part of £750k additional funding from NIHR to support Mental Health Research across Greater Manchester.

 

 

More information

 

 

 

Programme Manager
Gill Rizzello
gill.rizzello@manchester.ac.uk