Research priorities for mental health and circadian science: a priority setting partnership of individuals with lived experience, carers, clinicians and researchers.

An initial survey collected 964 questions from 247 respondents across multiple stakeholder groups.

• 247 total respondents participated in the initial survey among UK residents
• Respondent breakdown: 227 with lived experience, 44 carers (including 40 carers with lived experience), 41 clinicians (including 37 clinicians with lived experience)
• The 964 questions were processed into 171 summary questions by the steering group

Reviews of published research and existing clinical guidelines reduced the 171 summary questions to 63 unanswered summary questions.

• 171 summary questions were initially generated from the 964 raw submissions
• Evidence checking against published research and clinical guidelines was used to identify already-answered questions
• 63 unanswered summary questions remained after the evidence review process

A ranking survey of the 63 unanswered questions was completed by 222 respondents who each selected their 10 most important research questions.

• 222 total respondents completed the ranking survey
• Respondent breakdown: 200 with lived experience, 33 carers (including 29 carers with lived experience), 38 clinicians (including 30 clinicians with lived experience)
• Respondents were asked to select their 10 most important questions from the 63 summary questions
• The most highly ranked questions from this survey were taken forward to the final workshop stage

A final face-to-face workshop of 19 individuals produced a ranking of the top 25 research priorities in mental health and circadian science.

• 19 individuals participated in the final workshop, including individuals with lived experience, carers, and clinicians
• The workshop involved discussion and ranking of a shortlist of questions
• The output was a ranked list of top 25 research questions/priorities with particular focus on the Top 10
• The steering group comprised individuals with lived experience, carers, and clinicians throughout the process

The priority setting partnership found that important questions about the relationship between circadian rhythms and mental health remain unanswered.

• Undisturbed circadian rhythms of rest/activity are described as crucial to health and well-being
• Growing evidence suggests circadian rhythm disruptions are associated with adverse mental health outcomes and vice versa
• 63 out of 171 summary questions were identified as genuinely unanswered by existing research and clinical guidelines
• Addressing the identified priorities is expected to lead to greater understanding of the relationships between mental health and circadian rhythms

The final ranked research priorities are intended to inform researchers and funding bodies when setting future research priorities across mental health and circadian rhythms fields.

• The priorities are presented to inform both researchers and funding bodies
• Addressing the priorities is anticipated to have longer-term impacts on research, healthcare innovation, and public health policy
• The James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership methodology was used to ensure inclusion of lived experience, carer, and clinician perspectives
• The exercise was conducted in collaboration with a steering group comprising individuals with lived experience, carers, and clinicians