The high comorbidity of substance use disorders (SUDs) among people with severe mental health conditions (MHCs) poses major challenges to providing effective care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where treatment options are limited.

The aim of this scoping review was to produce an overview of the current evidence on psychosocial interventions for people with comorbid MHCs and SUDs in LMICs.

The following databases were searched from their inception to 23 July 2024: PubMed/Medline, Global Health, Embase, PsycINFO and Global Index Medicus. We also searched for grey literature, using Google Scholar, ProQuest and Clinicaltrials.gov. Reporting was according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. Studies were eligible if they focused on any psychosocial intervention targeting substance use in people with severe MHCs from LMICs. Of the 6304 records screened by titles and abstracts, 138 full-text articles were assessed and included for data extraction.

Of the 6304 records screened by titles and abstracts, 138 full-text articles were assessed and 13 articles were included for data extraction. Many of the studies (n = 9) had a quasi-experimental design, and were from Latin America and South Asia. Four studies were randomised controlled trials. The primary outcomes examined were substance use abstinence, treatment engagement and retention, reduction in psychiatric symptoms, functioning and suicidal behaviours. Despite some heterogeneity in study designs, target populations and evaluated outcomes, interventions including various tobacco cessation programmes, screening and brief intervention with family support, and community-based programmes, have demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing tobacco, alcohol and khat use, respectively.

The review shows that there have been few initiatives to design and test psychosocial interventions for individuals with comorbid severe MHCs and SUDs in LMICs. There is a clear need to design and test feasible, acceptable, and effective interventions to address both severe MHCs and substance use when they co-occur.

Refugees and asylum seekers often experience trauma, leading to high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the extent to which trauma and PTSD impacts social functioning, such as social relationships or engaging with community activities in new environments, remains unclear.

This systematic review aims to identify key areas of social functioning influenced by trauma and PTSD, with additional analyses stratified by trauma type.

A comprehensive search of five databases, grey literature sources, and reference lists was conducted in February 2025. Included papers explored the impact of trauma or PTSD on social functioning in adult displaced populations post-migration, within the last 30 years. Studies’ risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and the Authority, Accuracy, Coverage, Objectivity, Date, Significance checklist. Data were extracted on associations between trauma, PTSD and social functioning outcomes.

Of the studies, encompassing 15 394 participants, 38 met the inclusion criteria. Our analysis indicated that trauma and PTSD have an impact on multiple domains of social functioning, including post-migration living difficulties, everyday functioning, acculturation and integration, social relationships, and employment and education. War-related trauma predominantly affected psychosocial functioning and integration, whereas interpersonal trauma had a greater impact on social relationships. While most findings indicated a negative influence of trauma and PTSD on these areas, some evidence suggested the potential for post-traumatic growth.

The findings underscore the challenges displaced groups face, alongside the possibility of post-traumatic growth. Future research should focus on identifying factors that facilitate positive adaptation, informing interventions to support social integration in these vulnerable groups.

Peer-supported Open Dialogue (POD) integrates peer practitioners within mental health teams, fostering a collaborative, person-centred and social network approach to care. Although peer practitioners are increasingly involved in Open Dialogue, the role of peer practitioners within such teams remains underexplored.

This study aimed to explore (a) the experiences of peer practitioners working within Open Dialogue teams in the Open Dialogue: Development and Evaluation of a Social Intervention for Severe Mental Illness trial, and (b) the perspectives of non-peer Open Dialogue practitioners regarding peer involvement. Our further objectives were to understand the nature, degree and perceived impact of peer practitioner involvement in Open Dialogue.

A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured interviews and joint interviews with peer practitioners (n = 9). Additionally, excerpts from 11 interviews and 4 focus groups (n = 18), in which non-peer practitioners discussed peer practitioners’ contributions in Open Dialogue, were analysed. Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes.

Three themes were developed. The first focuses on the perceived influence of peer practitioners on Open Dialogue network meetings; the second explores the opportunities and challenges of working as a peer practitioner in Open Dialogue, while the third details the perceived impact of peer practitioners on team and organisational culture.

Open Dialogue’s emphasis on a flattened hierarchy facilitates the integration of peer practitioners, enabling them to contribute meaningfully to network meetings and team culture. Despite the overall positive experiences, peers still faced common challenges faced by those in other services, such as low pay and occasional instances of a compromised, flattened hierarchy.

Understanding what psychosocial interventions can reduce self-harm and suicide within in-patient mental health settings can be challenging, due to clinical demands and the large volume of published reviews.

To summarise evidence from systematic reviews on psychosocial and ward-level interventions (excluding environmental modifications) for self-harm and suicide that may enhance patient safety in in-patient mental health settings.

We systematically searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and CDSR (2013–2023) for systematic reviews on self-harm and suicide prevention interventions that included in-patient data. Review quality was assessed using AMSTAR-2, primary study overlap via an evidence matrix, and evidence strength evaluated (GRADE algorithm). Findings were narratively synthesised, with input from experts-by-experience throughout (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023442639).

Thirteen systematic reviews (seven meta-analyses, six narrative), comprising over 160 000 participants, were identified. Based on quantitative reviews, cognitive–behavioural therapy reduces repeat self-harm by follow-up, and dialectical behaviour therapy decreases the frequency of self-harm. Narrative review evidence suggested that post-discharge follow-up, as well as system and ward-based interventions (e.g. staff training) may reduce suicide and/or self-harm. However, review quality varied, patient involvement was lacking and methodological quality of trials informing reviews was predominately low. Overlap was slight (covered area 12.4%).

The effectiveness of interventions to prevent self-harm and suicide in in-patient settings remains uncertain due to variable quality reviews, evidence gaps, poor methodological quality of primary studies and a lack of pragmatic trials and co-production. There is an urgent need for better, co-designed research within in-patient mental health settings.

To truly understand the efficacy of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) psychoeducation, we need to know what is commonly included in it. This scoping review aims to describe the content of psychoeducation interventions for ADHD in published research. A literature search was conducted to identify relevant papers. Descriptions of psychoeducation aimed at children, parents/carers, adults and teachers were identified and compared narratively.

After screening, 57 papers were identified for data extraction and coding. Content themes included ‘information about ADHD’; ‘practical advice’; ‘impact of ADHD’; ‘treatment of ADHD’; ‘co-occurrence’; and ‘self-image/self-esteem’. ‘Information about ADHD’ and ‘practical advice’ were the most common themes, with variance on inclusion of other themes. Most of the identified research involved psychoeducation for parents of children with ADHD.

This review provides greater understanding of the content and delivery of ADHD psychoeducation. Further research could use this understanding to ascertain the efficacy of different content themes in supporting those with ADHD.

Non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) are recognised for their potential in treating dementia symptoms. However, little is known about the extent of their use. In this study, we conducted structured interviews with people with dementia and their family caregivers (n = 50), professional caregivers (n = 42) and dementia care coordinators (n = 42) on the use of 14 NPIs.

Cognitive stimulation/training, physical activity and occupational therapy were implemented by most participants, whereas neurofeedback, drama therapy and phototherapy were rarely used. Most NPIs were carried out weekly. People with dementia and their caregivers reported using significantly fewer NPIs than other participants (P < 0.001). Participants perceived effects for, on average, 90.3% (s.d. = 31.3%) of the NPIs that they used.

Providing targeted support and funding might help to increase the use of NPIs by family caregivers as well as in institutional care settings.

British South Asians have a greater incidence of psychotic illness, which is associated with cognitive deficits. Computerised cognitive remediation aims to improve cognition.

We aimed to culturally adapt computerised cognitive remediation for British South Asians with first-episode psychosis, and assess its feasibility.

Qualitative interviews were analysed using thematic analysis to guide cultural adaptation of cognitive remediation, followed by a case series to determine feasibility. Our sample comprised 20 participants: ten in the qualitative interviews and ten in the feasibility evaluation. The sample was generated via purposive sampling from early intervention services in England, and was an entirely Muslim cohort, who were mainly Pakistani and born in the UK. Our intervention was computerised interactive remediation of cognition training for schizophrenia (CIRCuiTS), which was culturally adapted based on formative qualitative interviews and using an established framework. Participants engaged with 40 h of tasks over 12 weeks, with the aim of improving attention, memory and executive functioning. Feasibility was explored by assessing acceptability, engagement and retention in the study, and a range of measures were used to assess impact on cognition and mental state.

The cultural adaptation of CIRCuiTS was found to be acceptable, with high levels of engagement and satisfaction. Despite the small sample, the intervention led to improved cognition and mental state.

This is the first study to culturally adapt computerised cognitive remediation for British South Asians who are Muslim, and it had high acceptability with good retention, engagement and satisfaction. Future effectiveness testing is recommended.

Knowledge on efficient approaches to the provision of post-disaster psychosocial care is urgently needed. To prevent unmet healthcare needs, proactive follow-up by municipal contact persons was recommended for survivors of the Utøya youth camp attack in Norway.

To examine characteristics of the survivors by whether or not they had a contact person in the early (0–5 months), intermediary (5–15 months) and long-term (20–32 months) aftermath of the attack, and to describe the survivors’ experiences with the contact person.

We analysed data from three waves of interviews with survivors conducted 4–5, 14–15 and 30–32 months after the attack, as well as register-based data on the use of mental health services from 3 years before until 3 years after the attack.

Survivors with a contact person early post-attack were less likely to receive care from mental health services concurrently or to have anxiety/depression symptoms subsequently compared with survivors without a contact person in the same period. Survivors with a contact person in the intermediary aftermath were more satisfied with the overall help they received, but also more likely to have long-term anxiety/depression symptoms. Survivors with a contact person in the long term were more likely to be financially disadvantaged. Approximately half of the survivors with a contact person found this highly or very highly useful, whereas one-third found it of little use or not at all useful.

The proactive outreach reached survivors across sociodemographic characteristics during the recommended first year of follow-up, which could be conducive to prevention of unmet healthcare needs. Still, there was considerable variation in the perceived usefulness and duration of the follow-up.

Cannabis use severely affects the outcome of people with psychotic disorders, yet there is a lack of treatments. To address this, in 2019 the National Health Service (NHS) Cannabis Clinic for Psychosis (CCP) was developed to support adults suffering from psychosis to reduce and/or stop their cannabis use.

Examine outcome data from the first 46 individuals to complete the CCP's intervention.

The sample (N = 46) consisted of adults (aged ≥ 18) with psychosis under the care of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, referred to the CCP between January 2020 and February 2023, who completed their intervention by September 2023. Clinical and functional measures were collected before (T0) and after (T1) the CCP intervention (one-to-one sessions and peer group attendance). Primary outcomes were changes in the Cannabis Use Disorders Identification Test-Revised (CUDIT-R) score and pattern of cannabis use. Secondary outcomes included T0–T1 changes in measures of delusions, paranoia, depression, anxiety and functioning.

A reduction in the mean CUDIT-R score was observed between T0 (mean difference = 17.10, 95% CI = 15.54–18.67) and T1, with 73.91% of participants achieving abstinence and 26.09% reducing the frequency and potency of their use. Significant improvements in all clinical and functional outcomes were observed, with 90.70% being in work or education at T1 compared with 8.70% at T0. The variance in CUDIT-R scores explained between 34 and 64% of the variance in our secondary measures.

The CCP intervention is a feasible strategy to support cannabis use cessation/reduction and improve clinical and functional outcomes of people with psychotic disorders.

People with severe mental illness (SMI) have worse physical health than the general population. There is evidence that support from volunteers can help the mental health of people with SMI, but little evidence regarding the support they can give for physical health.

To evaluate the feasibility of an intervention where volunteer ‘Health Champions’ support people with SMI in managing their physical health.

A feasibility hybrid randomised controlled trial conducted in mental health teams with people with SMI. Volunteers delivered the Health Champions intervention. We collected data on the feasibility of delivering the intervention, and clinical and cost-effectiveness. Participants were randomised by a statistician independent of the research team, to either having a Health Champion or treatment as usual. Blinding was not done.

We recruited 48 participants: 27 to the intervention group and 21 to the control group. Data were analysed for 34 participants. No changes were found in clinical effectiveness for either group. Implementation outcomes measures showed high acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness, but with low response rates. No adverse events were identified in either group. Interviews with participants found they identified changes they had made to their physical health. The cost of implementing the intervention was £312 per participant.

The Health Champion intervention was feasible to implement, but the implementation of the study measures was problematic. Participants found the intervention acceptable, feasible and appropriate, and it led them to make changes in their physical health. A larger trial is recommended, with tailored implementation outcome measures.