{"id":1609,"date":"2026-08-05T09:43:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T08:43:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/reach\/?page_id=1609"},"modified":"2026-08-05T09:43:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T08:43:26","slug":"completed-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/reach\/completed-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Completed studies"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” background_layout=”dark” module_class=”main-navigation” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”||0px|” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#ffffff”][et_pb_row allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” custom_margin=”||0px|” custom_padding=”||0px|” module_class=”breadcrumbs-row” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Breadcrumbs (do not remove)” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”breadcrumbs” custom_css_main_element=”border-bottom: 1px solid #ececed;” module_alignment=”left” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\nReACH<\/a><\/span><\/span>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar admin_label=”Left Nav Sidebar” area=”et_pb_widget_area_1″ orientation=”left” remove_border=”on” background_layout=”light” module_id=”left-nav-menu” show_border=”off” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner admin_label=”Row”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_text background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” module_alignment=”left” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n

Completed studies<\/h1>\n

Culturally-adapted Family Intervention (CaFI) for African and Caribbean People<\/h3>\n

ISRCTN Trial Registration: 12622538
Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme (Ref: 16\/167\/76)<\/p>\n

Background<\/h4>\n

In the UK, people of Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean origin are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychosis than people from other ethnic groups. Black and Mixed heritage people also experience inferior care, including lack of access to psychological therapies and culturally informed treatment.<\/p>\n

Culturally-adapted Family Intervention (\u2018CaFI\u2019 for short) was developed to address these longstanding inequalities in psychosis care experienced by Black and Mixed heritage people. Although Family Intervention (FI) is recommended for psychosis by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), it is not always provided by NHS Mental Health Trusts and is rarely offered to Black and Mixed heritage families. FI and other talking treatments are not usually culturally appropriate, and NHS therapists receive little or no training in how to work in culturally sensitive ways.<\/p>\n

This study explored whether CaFI could improve psychosis symptoms and people\u2019s ability to function in comparison to the care they usually receive. We also wanted to find out what would increase CaFI\u2019s chances of being taken up by NHS services and the things that make it less likely to become part of usual care. The research was conducted in the Northwest, Midlands, London, and South of England. The study was due to last 54 months but closed early.<\/p>\n

Findings<\/h4>\n

The study closed early due to lack of funding. As we did not have enough people completing the research, we cannot say for certain that CaFI is any better than usual care.<\/p>\n

However, our findings shows that people who received the CaFI therapy were less likely (27%) to relapse (become unwell again) than those who received usual care during the 12-month follow-up. Patients, carers, and family members were positive about CaFI. For instance, they said that CaFI created \u2018safe spaces\u2019 to talk about the negative effects of racism and discrimination on mental health. People also valued the opportunity to talk about faith and spirituality.<\/p>\n

This is important because these things are rarely discussed in the NHS. Having their culture reflected in CaFI therapy materials was particularly welcome. People liked the colourful images of people who looked like them. The quality and clarity of images that reflected the diversity within Black communities was also praised.<\/p>\n

After taking part in CaFI, two-thirds of the therapists (66%) felt more able to deal with issues of race and culture and more than half (53%) recognised that they needed further support.<\/p>\n

Overall, findings from this and our previous study suggest that patients, families, carers, and healthcare professionals see the need for culturally informed psychological care. However, further research with bigger numbers and hearing from people about their experiences is needed to improve psychosis care for people of Sub-Saharan African and Caribbean backgrounds.<\/p>\n

More information can be found on the CaFI website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Selected publications<\/h4>\n