Group training to improve the relationship between mothers with psychosis and their teenage children
Sessions based on learning to better manage thoughts and emotions, learn new ways to resolve conflicts, improve the mother-child relationship and meet other families who are experiencing a similar situation
The project is open to public participation, thus contributing to progress in research and the improvement of mental health
A dozen centres from across Spain are participating in the research project
A research team from Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu is carrying out a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of metacognitive training in families, aimed at mothers diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders and their children between 12 and 20 years old. The training is based on learning processes, helping participants to better manage thoughts and emotions, learn new ways to resolve conflicts and improve the mother-child relationship.
It is a unique and innovative research programme that aims to adapt and evaluate metacognitive training in families. There is extensive evidence of its value in patients with psychosis, but here it is being adapted for mothers with psychosis who have teenage children. The approach has been adapted to a family context by women with psychosis, teenagers, family members and professionals working together. Although these families constitute a vulnerable population, this is the first programme specifically designed to address their needs.
Group sessions with a specialised professional
Metacognitive training is an online group activity, in eleven one-hour sessions, in which mothers and their teenage sons and daughters participate, led by a psychologist who specialises in training such groups. Assessments will be carried out before and after the face-to-face and/or online sessions.
During the training, participants reflect on their own thoughts and those of others, and work on new ways of behaving, solving problems, listening and being listened to.
Open to new participants
Currently, this research project remains open to new participants and you can contact the organisers to participate and resolve any doubts via email to lin.chen@sjd.es or by whatsapp at 673 95 81 96.
Joint project with ten centres
Centres participating in this research include Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau (Barcelona), Fundación Jiménez Díaz (Madrid), Corporació Sanitària i Universitària Parc Taulí (Sabadell, Barcelona), Les Corts Mental Hygiene Center (Barcelona), Institut Pere Mata (Reus, Tarragona), Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander), Parc Salut Mar (Barcelona), Hospital de Mataró (Mataró, Barcelona), Fundació Vidal i Barraquer (Barcelona), Hospital Virgen del Rocío (Seville), Mutua de Terrassa (Terrassa, Barcelona) and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (Sant Boi, Barcelona).
The study is being funded by the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII). The principal investigator is Dr Susana Ochoa and the co-coordinator is Dr Victoria Espinosa, both of whom work and conduct research at the Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu.
