RELATE-YP: relational approach to working with young people who self-harm

The RELATE-YP trial is looking at a type of talking therapy called cognitive analytic therapy or CAT. We want to know if this therapy might be helpful for 13- to 17-year-olds who struggle with self-harm.

Self-harm is a common but complex problem that affects a lot of young people. You might self-harm for lots of reasons, often because of very difficult or distressing feelings or situations. It can have a big impact on your life, but talking therapies have the potential to help.

Cognitive analytic therapy focuses on the relationships you have with others and how you feel about yourself. Your therapist can explore the reasons why you self-harm and work with you to find ways out of unhelpful patterns.

About the study

We want to conduct a trial of cognitive analytic therapy with young people who self-harm, to find out if it is something you find helpful and worthwhile. The goal is to see whether it’s worth running a bigger trial in the future.

The study aims to answer two important questions:

  • How do you and other young people feel about the therapy? (This is called acceptability.)
  • Is it possible to run a bigger study in the future? (This is called feasibility.)

To answer these questions, we’re running a smaller-scale trial — called RELATE-YP. It’s an important step in understanding whether cognitive analytic therapy is helpful for young people who self-harm.

What is involved and who can take part

The trial has been designed and is being run by a group of researchers, clinicians, and people with lived experience of self-harm.

We plan to recruit 60 young people who struggle with self-harm to take part in the trial.

If you take part, you will be randomly put into one of two groups. Half will be offered cognitive analytic therapy plus any ongoing treatment you are receiving. The other half will have your usual support but will not be offered cognitive analytic therapy.

You will be asked to complete assessments about how you are getting on at the start of the trial, and then 8, 16 and 20 weeks later.

For more information, email us: pcn-tr.cypresearch@nhs.net

The study team is made up of:

  • Dr Peter Taylor, chief investigator
  • Dr Stephen Kellett, co-chief investigator
  • Dr Sarah Parry, co-investigator
  • Dr Sam Hartley, co-investigator
  • Prof. Catherine Robinson, co-investigator
  • Cameron Latham, expert by experience
  • Dr Mark Hann, statistician
  • Dr Martin Eden, health economist
  • Dr Isabel Adeyemi, trial manager