Care coordinator delivered method of levels therapy to improve engagement and other outcomes in early psychosis (CAMEO): protocol for a feasibility cluster-randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Abstract Background Rates of disengagement from early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services are high. Care coordinators make up the largest staff group in EIP services and have the most frequent and sustained contact with service users. The quality of relationships between service users and care coordinators plays a central role in determining the effectiveness of EIP services. Care coordinators, however, are not routinely offered training in psychosocial interventions that could enhance the therapeutic impact of their role. Method of levels (MOL) is a flexible, transdiagnostic cognitive therapy with potential advantages over previously evaluated approaches. Training care coordinators in MOL could make their routine contacts with service users more helpful and improve outcomes such as recovery rates and levels of engagement. Aims This study aims to assess the feasibility of training care coordinators in EIP services to deliver MOL, to understand whether this approach might improve service user engagement and recovery from psychosis compared to treatment as usual, and to assess the feasibility of conducting a cluster-randomised controlled trial (C-RCT) with clustering at the level of teams. Specific feasibility outcomes relate to the recruitment and retention of participants, care coordinators’ level of engagement with the MOL training and supervision programme, implementation of MOL in practice, and the acceptability of the intervention amongst participants. Methods A feasibility parallel group cluster-randomised controlled trial (C-RCT) designs with two arms: (1) treatment as usual (TAU) or (2) TAU plus support from a care coordinator who has received training in MOL. Randomisation will take place at the level of EIP teams with an allocation ratio of 1:2 in favour of the intervention arm. Our recruitment target is 12 EIP teams, 24 care coordinators working in participating EIP teams, and up to 96 service users working with participating care coordinators. Outcomes will be collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Qualitative methods will be used to understand participants’ experiences of the study, MOL training programme, and MOL intervention. Discussion This is the first study that aims to evaluate the feasibility of training EIP care coordinators to deliver MOL in their routine practice. Training care coordinators in MOL could enhance the quality of relationships between care coordinators and service users and improve outcomes for people experiencing early psychosis. Results will be used to determine the appropriateness of progressing to a larger evaluation trial. Trial registration This study was prospectively registered with the ISRCTN Registry (14082421).