SMI causes significant distress to affected people, families and wider communities, generating high costs through loss of productivity and ongoing healthcare use. The burden is greatest in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where there may be a lack of financial resources and qualified staff to provide extensive specialised services.
PIECEs’ research programme will explore, adapt and test a low-cost, generic approach (DIALOG+) that makes use of
existing resources to improve community-based care for patients with psychosis and reduce the need for institutionalisation in India and Pakistan. DIALOG+ is an app-mediated intervention that has been shown to improve mental health outcomes. The research will also develop a participatory arts work which will focus on giving voice to people with psychosis and their experiences as well as engage local communities, opening conversations about mental illness.
DIALOG+ to ensure appropriateness to the local context
the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the intervention in improving QoL, and secondary outcomes (symptoms, treatment satisfaction, physical health, social situation) for people with psychosis;
an implementation toolkit to aid wider dissemination and upscale;
the capacity of local researchers and services through a programme of capacity-building and knowledge exchange;
with the local community, using digital and social media, and innovative arts-based approaches;
a model for user involvement in research, including establishing Lived Experience Advisory Panels (LEAP).