The Psychosis Metabolic Risk Calculator Project

Tools can be developed to help predict risk of developing physical health issues. For older adults with experience of psychosis, there are several suitable physical health risk calculator tools already in existence. However, there is currently no equivalent tool suitable for young people with experience of psychosis. 

It is hoped that PsyMetRiC could help young people with experience of psychosis and their healthcare professionals be more informed about the risk of future physical health issues and aid shared decision making about different physical health interventions to reduce risk. 

For young people who might have a higher chance of developing future physical health issues, steps could be taken much earlier than currently possible, to lower the chance of, or even prevent the physical health issue happening at all.  

These steps could involve changes to prescribed medications, increasing physical activity, seeing a dietician to help with eating healthily, or getting help to stop smoking if necessary.  

However, such steps are very hard to stick to even before considering the experience of psychosis on top, so ensuring suitability for young people with experience of psychosis is also crucial.

For PsyMetRiC to be successfully used in the clinic, it needs to be acceptable to young people with experience of psychosis.

The McPin Foundation Young People’s Network and Advisory Group have previously supported the development and validation of PsyMetRiC, particularly regarding what information young people are comfortable disclosing as predictors in the tool and shaping future research.

We will now establish a dedicated PsyMetRiC Lived Experience Advisory Panel (LEAP), in collaboration with The Centre for Mental Health and Equally Well.  

The PsyMetRiC LEAP will comprise a diverse group of young people and young adults aged 16-35 years old, with recent lived experience of hearing voices, seeing visions or other unusual sensory experiences and of being seen by a healthcare professional in an early intervention service for these experiences.

They will meet regularly to input and advise on the design and conduct of the project throughout.

They will also receive training in scientific communications and graphic design to co-produce risk communication resources and tool app branding, as well as support dissemination of project results in understandable, accessible ways.

Rotating members will attend and ensure lived experience representation at project steering group meetings.

Finally, there will also be the opportunity for two members to be trained as young people co-researchers to co-facilitate ongoing PsyMetRiC research.

All members will receive appropriate support, training and development as required.  

For more information about the public involvement in this project please email [email protected].