YOMETA – YOUTH METACOGNITIVE THERAPY

  • YoMeta Study
YoMeta Study

YOMETA – YOUTH METACOGNITIVE THERAPY

YoMeta Study

Professor Adrian Wells

Chief Investigator

3-year project

study name

Youth Metacognitive Therapy (YoMeta)

YoMeta is an NIHR research funded study (NIHR201495) looking at group metacognitive therapy (MCT) for children and young people (CYP) with anxiety and or depression.

Study Participants

  • Children or young people (aged 11-16)
  • Seeking treatment for anxiety, stress, depression, or a combination of these common mental health disorders.

Study Design

  • YoMeta is a parallel single blind randomised feasibility study with two conditions: group-MCT vs. treatment as usual (TAU).
  • We plan to recruit 100 participants .
  • They will be randomised (like flipping a coin) to one of two groups: group MCT or TAU.
  • All participants will complete questionnaires at baseline, 4 month follow up (post treatment), 8 month follow up and 11 month follow up.
  • A qualitative study will explore participants’ experience of group MCT and therapist views of MCT and being trained in MCT.

YOMETA Info

YoMeta Study Background
  • 1 in 6 CYP suffer mental health problems needing support or treatment, with 1 in 20 suffering more than one mental health problem.
  • Emotional disorders, which include anxiety, depression and stress disorders are the most common type of mental health problem with 1 in 12 CYP experiencing them.
  • Experiencing a mental health problem can impact progress at school, relationships with others and increase the risk of long-term mental health problems.
  • The UK Government and NHS have recognised and highlighted the importance of improving children and young people’s mental health.

Testimonial

  • AnonymousYoMeta Pilot Group Patient
    The group sessions helped me to stop spiralling with destructive thoughts, it made me be able to acknowledge any negative thoughts that I had but not go down a damaging rabbit hole.

Project Timeline

Stage 1

(Months 1-6) commenced in October 2021 Study Initiation = therapist training, ethical approval, adapting group MCT protocol for CYP.

Stage 2

(Months 5-26) commenced in May 2022 Participant recruitment (12 months), intervention delivery (12 months); collection of end of treatment & follow-up data (18 months)

Stage 3

(Months 27-32) due to start in June 2024 Data cleaning & analyses

Stage 4

(Months 31-36) commences May/July 2024 Report writing & dissemination.

FAQs

YoMeta Study FAQ
What is the purpose of the study?

The purpose of the YoMeta trial is to find out if a psychological therapy called metacognitive therapy (MCT) delivered in a group format is helpful for children and young people experiencing psychological distress due to a mental health disorder (anxiety, stress, or depression).

What does the study involve?
What does Metacognitive Therapy (MCT) involve?
What does Treatment as Usual (TAU) involve?
What is Patient and Public Involvement (PPI)?

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