Research Aims

Many people experiencing psychosis report difficulties forming and maintaining intimate relationships, but describe these relationships as central to their well-being and recovery. We examine two types of barriers to relationships:

• Intrapersonal barriers, or how symptoms of psychosis, such as positive and negative symptoms, cognitive impairments, or social cognitive impairments, interfere with social relationships. 

• Interpersonal barriers, or how societal stigma, discrimination, and exclusion towards people with psychosis interferes with social relationships.

Projects addressing this research aim might focus on specific aspects of these relationships, such as seeking to understand how certain social cognitive impairments interfere in certain social situations, or how certain negative symptoms are linked with social withdrawal or amotivation. We also explore how stigma towards psychosis might differ depending on the relationship (e.g., friendship versus romantic relationship) or depending on certain individual factors (e.g., age, status as a mental health practitioner). 

We also are interested in understanding the experiences of people who are in relationships where one or multiple partners experience psychosis or another severe mental illness. Research projects might examine strategies for relationship success, how partners cope with specific symptoms or experiences, and how these relationships can support recovery.

Recovery from psychosis is multifaceted and complex. While much research focuses on symptom recovery and, to a lesser extent, functional recovery, less research examines personal recovery. Personal recovery refers to aspects such as feelings of connectedness, hope, identity, meaning, and empowerment (Leamy et al., 2011). Every person has a different perspective on what recovery means to them. In this line of work, we seek to understand diverse perspectives on recovery as well as diverse recovery outcomes following psychological interventions for psychosis (e.g., cognitive behavioural  therapy for psychosis). 

Engagement with the healthcare system is a common experience for people with psychosis. Unfortunately, for many, stigmatizing or harmful experiences are common. Our research seeks to understand stigma among healthcare professionals, how this impacts patient care, and how it can be reduced to improve treatment access and outcomes for people experiencing psychosis.

In line with our research on intimate relationships in psychosis, we also examine stigma towards sex and sexuality in the healthcare system, and how it affects people with severe mental illness who are seeking support related to relationships and sexual well-being. This includes providing workshops and psychoeducational resources to support clinicians in navigating topics related to intimacy and sexuality in healthcare settings.

There are many psychological and psychosocial interventions designed to support people with psychosis. Often, treatments are designed and implemented with little input from people with lived experience of psychosis. In the pursuit of enhancing treatment accessibility and outcomes, we research patient experiences with treatments and ways that we can design and redesign interventions to better meet patient needs and individual recovery goals. In past work, Dr. Woolridge has examined interventions including cognitive remediation, cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis, self-stigma interventions, and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. 

We are also interested in adapting existing treatments to best suit the needs of people with psychosis. Currently, we are examining the effects of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) in populations with early psychosis. Sleep is a significant factor affecting symptom severity, cognition, and well-being in psychosis, and we are examining how improvements in sleep might be associated with improvements in these other areas. 

As part of our overarching research aims, our long-term goal is the development and implementation of an intervention to support intimate, romantic, and sexual well-being for people with psychosis.