| Interventions |
Preliminary screening of interested subjects will ensure that patients who have an existing psychotic disorder or are currently receiving any form of psychotherapy, or are alcohol or substance dependant as assessed by their treating clinician or the investigators are excluded from both groups (by notes review, discussion with treating doctor, and by checklist of questions to subjects). Subjects will then be randomised to either the CBT or standard care group. Patients in the CBT group will be offered a choice between a face-to-face therapy and online therapy. All participants randomised to the CBT group will then have a screening interview with a Clinical Psychologist to assess suitability for CBT before the beginning of the trial. Moreover, patients will need to be available to attend the 2-hour 10 week group program (1 x 2 hour session per week) at the RAH or complete online exercises under the guidance of Senior Clinical Psychologist in a similar format to face-to-face sessions and agree to complete questionnaires at baseline, (10 weeks), 6, 12 and 24 months. Patients will be required to provide written informed consent before the beginning of the trial. CBT and standard care groups will have separate patient information sheets. The CBT will be a group program designed specifically for this patient population. It will be delivered in two modes, face-to-face and online providing a patient with a choice, with both following exactly the same program. Online CBT will have a weekly chat option and option to exchange emails with a Senior Clinical Psychologist built-in, in order to provide the opportunity to interact with the therapist mirroring face-to-face group mode. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that aims to identify and modify unhelpful negative thinking styles and |