CAMEO team deliver symposium on mid-life psychosis at international conference
CPFT mental health and lived experience experts (pictured) from our CAMEO early intervention service were invited to present a symposium on mid-life psychosis at the IEPA conference in Berlin last month (September 2025).
A significant number of women present with first episode psychosis at mid-life, and we need to increase understanding of how menopause affects this and improve care. Evidence suggests women at this life stage experience longer periods of illness and psychosis symptoms which are harder to treat. More research and clinical guidelines are needed to help NHS early intervention services provide the best care for these women.
CAMEO Clinical Nurse Specialist Lizzie Kenedler (third, back row) has completed a Fellowship research project with ARC East of England on the experiences of women with first episode psychosis at mid-life and their menopause journeys, and consultant psychiatrist Dr Liliana Galindo (second, back row) recently highlighted the increased risk of developing psychosis in menopause and potential of psychedelic treatments ahead of World Menopause Day (18 October).
Lizzie said: “Delivering this symposium to an international audience was a great opportunity to share and learn from others and further develop plans for research projects. Our lived-experience project team members have provided invaluable insight and support through co-production, and presenting part of the symposium from their perspective builds their experience and learning. We now have a better understanding of clinical presentation and treatment of women with first episode psychosis at mid-life which will help us enhance care and support to improve outcomes.”
CPFT is one of three early intervention in psychosis services in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk working on projects to explore service user experiences, clinical presentation, needs and suitable treatments for mid-life psychosis. They are co-producing the Menopause Journey in First Episode Psychosis Screening Tool (MJ-FEP) to pilot in NHS services. This is a clinical questionnaire covering self-reported symptoms of menopause and other conditions linked to the onset of psychosis at mid-life.
