Focus Groups on Cognitive Function in Psychosis

Cognitive deficits are commonly observed in people with mental disorders. In psychosis, these impairments are frequently present early in the course of the disorder and have a substantial impact on functional outcomes. This project will gain insight into the cognitive deficits that people with lived experience of psychosis and their carers perceive to be the most troublesome. To achieve this, the investigators will conduct two sets of focus groups. During the first set of focus groups, the investigators will aim to identify the cognitive deficits that individuals with psychosis and their carers consider to be the most impairing. The findings of these focus groups will provide important information about what areas of cognition and functioning should be considered in future analyses of large fully anonymised datasets collected in the past from individuals with psychosis. The focus groups will not form part of those analyses, but will provide input from people with lived experience of psychosis on what problems with thinking skills are the most important for them and that should be considered by further research. The second set of focus groups will enable the investigators to determine the participants' perception of potential risks and benefits associated with the dissemination of findings on cognitive function in psychosis, to ensure this is done in a manner that is sensitive to the wishes and needs of people with lived experience of psychosis. Each participant will be asked to attend one focus group, which will last approximately one hour. Focus groups will take place at the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) Trust or at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, although provision will be made for participants to also participate online.