News
University of Sussex on 'The One Show'
By: Alice Ingall
Last updated: Thursday, 14 June 2018
Dr Kathy Greenwood, a clinical psychologist at the University of Sussex and Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, appeared on BBC One’s flagship programme ‘The One Show’ on Thursday 5 April. Dr Greenwood was speaking in an item on SlowMo, the UK's first digitally supported therapy for paranoia.
A trial of the SlowMo app was launched by the University of Sussex and the Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust earlier this year, following trials in Oxford and London led by King’s College London. They are recruiting participants across Sussex over the next two years.
Dr Greenwood, speaking on 'The One Show' about the app, said:
“The SlowMo therapy is a new approach where people are encouraged to visualise thoughts in spinning bubbles and the aim of the therapy is to slow down for a moment, to slow down their thinking and to find new approaches to feel safer.
“This is something developed by expert therapists based on the best available evidence. The app is a supportive tool that allows us to enhance the impact of what we already do.”
Dr Greenwood appeared in the film on ‘The One Show’ alongside Dr Alison McGourty from Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and a trial participant, Angie.
Angie, who has been trying out SlowMo to help with her paranoid thoughts, explained:
“I’ve had psychotic symptoms for many years. I’ve tried all sorts of different therapies, and medications. When I was introduced to SlowMo I found it was such a good idea, a simple idea all about slowing your thoughts down and thinking things through. It really helped and I can say it has really changed my life.
“I don’t panic on the bus so much any more and if I do, I look at the phone they gave me with the app on it. This has helped me to go out so much more socially. I used to think people were looking at me and talking about me but since using SlowMo I’ve managed to go out more, which is a really good thing. I do like people but the way my voices work made me think these things and made it difficult to go out.”
The trial is funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) partnership. 360 people living with schizophrenia will be involved with the trial and followed up over six months.
Professor David Fowler and Dr Greenwood, from the School of Psychology at the University of Sussex, have been working with Professor Philippa Garety and her team from King’s College London and South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for several years helping to develop this innovative approach. If the trial shows benefit for patients, Professor Garety hopes to make it freely available across the NHS.