What are mental health service users' priorities for research in the UK?

Objective: To investigate service users' priorities for mental health research and compare them with established priorities. Methods: Groups of service users were convened from the London boroughs of Southwark, Lewisham, Lambeth and Croydon. The study was informed by participatory research methodology. User accounts of their research priorities were analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results: Service users in this study identified different research priorities from those of professionals. They wished to design and conduct more research themselves, and were more interested in research that was social and psychological rather than biomedical. They also wished to see investigations of alternative treatments to psychiatric medication. Conclusions: The research priorities of service users need further investigation, and effective structures should be developed and consolidated to ensure that these priorities become incorporated into the mental health research agenda.