Improving the lives of survivors of trauma and psychosis

Introducing integrated Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis (TF-CBTp)

Trauma-focused CBTp can help people experiencing trauma and psychosis 

Introducing an Integrated Trauma-focused CBTp that can help people experiencing trauma and psychosis 

STAR Trial (Study of Trauma and Recovery): The NIHR-funded STAR trial is a large multi-site randomised control trial which tested whether an integrated TF-CBTp approach is helpful for a range of problems.

TF-CBTp (developed and tested through the NIHR-funded Study of Trauma and Recovery, STAR) aims to reduce the distress of common effects of trauma and psychosis – mental health conditioners characterised by re-experiencing intrusive trauma memories, fearing harm from others or seeing, hearing or feeling things others cannot. 

 

We explain how it works and share the encouraging results from the STAR NIHR-funded trial. 

TF-CBTp (developed through the STAR research trial) aims to reduce the distress of common effects of trauma and psychosis - mental health conditions characterised by re-experiencing intrusive trauma memories, fearing harm from others or seeing, hearing or feeling things others cannot. 

We explain what TF-CBTp involves and share the encouraging results from the STAR NIHR-funded trial. 

  • TF-CBTp (STAR) investigated trauma-focused therapy for people experiencing common effects of trauma who fear harm from others or who see, hear or feel things others cannot.

  • TF-CBTp (STAR) therapy is for people who experience common effects of trauma who fear harm from others or see, hear, or feel things others cannot. 

  • Researchers from King’s College London and NHS Trusts across the UK , ran a randomised controlled trial in 2024. The goal was to test the efficacy of STAR TF-CBTp therapy across multiple National Health Service (NHS) sites in England. This research was carried out with the involvement of people with lived experience of these mental health problems. Their expertise has helped to inform the trials at every stage – from recruitment to producing resources and blogs. 

    The trial, funded by NIHR, showed that STAR TF-CBTp was significantly more effective than treatment-as-usual at reducing a range of PTSD, psychosis, and emotional disorders outcomes.

    People with psychosis should no longer be excluded from trauma-focused interventions in clinical services and research trials.

    The results, published in 2025, demonstrated the therapy was safe, highly acceptable and effective. 

  • We hope the findings of this study can provide a template for nation-wide roll-out of the therapy.  

    Alongside this, we are developing training and resources to help people to deliver this within routine NHS settings. 

Read more about TF CBTp (STAR) research trials