| Title: |
Cultural adaptation and preliminary evaluation of the psychosis REACH family intervention in Pakistan |
| Authors: |
Sarah L. Kopelovich; Shanaya Rathod; Jennifer Blank; Rehmeena Iqbal; Akansha Vaswani-Bye; Douglas Turkington; Kate Hardy; Imran I. Haider; Victoria Shepard; Peter Phiri; Afzal Javed |
| Source: |
Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health, Vol 13 (2026) |
| Publisher Information: |
Cambridge University Press |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
| Subject Terms: |
family interventions for psychosis; task-shifting; psychosis REACH; cultural adaptations; CBTp; low-and middle-income countries; feasibility study caregiver burden; Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry; RC321-571 |
| Description: |
Most individuals with mental disorders reside in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where care is often provided by family members. However, Family Interventions for psychosis (FIp) are rarely adapted for LMIC contexts. Using a validated cultural adaptation framework, we adapted Psychosis Recovery by Enabling Adult Carers at Home (Psychosis REACH) – an intervention designed for delivery outside of clinical settings – and evaluated the adapted version (Ca-REACH) among families affiliated with a mental health rehabilitation clubhouse in Lahore, Pakistan. A Fountain House clinician delivered Ca-REACH to 40 caregivers of individuals with psychosis through eight in-person group sessions. Feasibility was demonstrated across multiple process indicators: all 40 caregiver–resident dyads consented (100% recruitment), caregiver retention was high, session attendance averaged 96.5% and assessments were completed at baseline, post-intervention and 4-month follow-up. Data completeness among residents was 85%. Perceived feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness (FIM, AIM, IAM) all exceeded the benchmark score of 4.0 (M = 4.42–4.79). Caregivers demonstrated significant improvements in anxiety and psychological well-being, with marginal reductions in depression. Residents showed significant improvements in PANSS general and total symptom scores. Findings support the acceptability and promise of Ca-REACH as a feasible, culturally responsive, community-delivered FIp in a low-resource setting. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| ISBN: |
978-2-05-442512-1; 2-05-442512-5 |
| Relation: |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425125101076/type/journal_article; https://doaj.org/toc/2054-4251; https://doaj.org/article/a70d059813204eb7a2580362a29dcf53 |
| DOI: |
10.1017/gmh.2025.10107 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2025.10107; https://doaj.org/article/a70d059813204eb7a2580362a29dcf53 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.FC35B879 |
| Database: |
BASE |