Narrative-Based Peer Group Interventions for Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: Early Observations from a Feasibility and Acceptability Study at the CEDAR Clinic
Allison Slocum, CEDAR Clinic/BCCMH
Tamara Welikson, STAR Clinic/McLean Hospital
Janina Scarlet, creator of Superhero Therapy; consulting psychologist with CEDAR and STAR
Amanda Weber, CEDAR Clinic/BCCMH
Background: Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) clinics for clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) serve a population with substantial unmet needs in social connectedness, identity development, and treatment engagement, yet peer group-based psychosocial interventions targeting these domains remain underdeveloped. The CEDAR Clinic is a specialized CHR-P CSC program and is part of the Massachusetts Psychosis Prevention Partnership (M3P), a statewide consortium funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In response to the need for developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive approaches to these domains, CEDAR has offered a Superhero Therapy/Anime Group (ST/AG) for adolescents ages 14–18. The ST/AG integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and superhero/anime-based narrative frameworks to promote identity development, intrapersonal meaning-making, and social connectedness through engagement with culturally resonant media. Given the limited availability of peer group-based interventions within CHR-P CSC, this study examines whether the ST/AG's culturally resonant and evidence-informed format is feasible and acceptable for implementation in CHR-P CSC settings.
Methods: This retrospective and prospective secondary data analysis examined feasibility and acceptability of the ST/AG delivered as routine clinical care at CEDAR. Feasibility was indexed by enrollment, session attendance, and completion rates. Acceptability was assessed using a group-specific questionnaire and participants were provided with the opportunity to provide qualitative feedback regarding their group experience.
Results: Data collection is ongoing. This poster will present the study design, rationale, and measurement approach as well as observed facilitators and barriers to feasibility and acceptability in a CHR-P CSC setting.
Conclusions: This project aims to address a gap in developmentally appropriate, culturally engaging peer group interventions for CHR-P populations. By generating foundational feasibility and acceptability data, the study aims to inform future regional dissemination of these models, supporting statewide goals of early intervention and evidence-based care.