Enhancing Immune Health for Mental Illness

Overseen By Judith A Cook, Ph.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Unable to communicate

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

100 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a new approach to help adults with mental illnesses improve their immune health. The aim is to determine if a program called "Enhancing Your Immune Health" can enhance participants' understanding and management of their immune health. Two groups participate: one receives usual mental health care, while the other attends a special session on immune health. Ideal candidates are adults with serious mental illnesses who belong to a participating mental health agency and have internet access. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to innovative research that could improve mental and immune health management.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this psychosocial intervention is safe for adults with mental illnesses?

Research has shown that educational programs like "Enhancing Your Immune Health" are generally safe. These programs aim to increase participants' knowledge about immune health and teach self-management techniques. They do not involve drugs or medical procedures, so side effects are rare.

Studies have found that learning more about mental health can improve overall health habits, leading to better mental health, such as fewer symptoms. No evidence suggests major negative effects from these types of programs. The goal is to help participants understand and take control of their health, which most find easy to handle. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the trial "Enhancing Immune Health for Mental Illness" because it explores an innovative approach to mental health care by focusing on immune health. Unlike standard treatments that typically involve medication or therapy, this trial aims to improve patients' understanding of their immune system and enhance their self-management skills. By boosting immune health literacy, the intervention may empower individuals to better manage their mental health, potentially offering a novel and holistic way to address mental illnesses. This approach stands out because it targets the immune system's role in mental health, which is a relatively new area of exploration.

What evidence suggests that the Enhancing Your Immune Health program could be effective for improving immune health in adults with mental illnesses?

Studies have shown that certain activities and therapies can strengthen the immune system and improve related health outcomes. The "Enhancing Your Immune Health" program in this trial aims to help people with mental illnesses better understand and manage their immune health. Participants in the experimental arm will receive a brief intervention to enhance their immune health literacy and self-management skills. Early research indicates that increased knowledge about the immune system encourages healthier habits, leading to improved overall well-being and mental health. The program focuses on teaching skills and knowledge to help participants care for their immune health. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with serious mental illness who are part of a community mental health agency and have internet access. They must be able to understand and agree to the study's terms.

Inclusion Criteria

You can use the Internet.

You are able to fully understand and agree to participate in the study.

You have a significant mental illness.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive a brief psychoeducational intervention to improve immune health literacy and behaviors

2 months

1 visit (in-person) at baseline

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in immune status and health-promoting behaviors

3 months

2 visits (in-person) at immediate post-intervention and 3 months post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Enhancing Your Immune Health

Trial Overview The study examines whether a psychosocial program can boost immune system knowledge and healthy habits in people with psychiatric conditions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects receive a brief intervention to improve their immune health literacy and self-management skills.

Group II: Services as Usual Active Control 1 Intervention

Subjects receive routine mental health care.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Chicago

Lead Sponsor

Trials

653

Recruited

1,574,000+

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Collaborator

Trials

83

Recruited

10,500+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 843 undergraduate students in the U.S., therapy and counseling were recognized as the most helpful treatments for various psychiatric diagnoses, indicating a positive perception of these interventions.

Participants showed a need for improved mental health literacy regarding alcohol use disorder (AUD), as they often attributed the problem to personal weakness rather than recognizing it as a mental health issue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Broad Examination of Mental Health Literacy Among College Students in the United States. Hannan, SM., Wells, TT.[2023]

A quality improvement project involving 124 psychiatric patients showed that individualized safety plans created during inpatient treatment were well-tailored, scoring an average of 32.85 out of 44 on a customization rubric.

Postdischarge, 96.1% of patients retained their safety plans, and 36.8% reported using them, with 67.9% of those users finding the plans helpful, indicating that these plans can support recovery after hospitalization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bridging the Gap Between Individualized Inpatient Safety Planning and Postdischarge Efficacy. Leonard, J., Chiappetta, L., Stark, S., et al.[2023]

Over a 4-year evaluation involving 534 adult clients, the Hope Health and Wellness Clinic demonstrated significant improvements in physical health markers such as LDL and total cholesterol, as well as self-reported measures of social connectedness and psychological distress.

Individuals with serious mental illness showed notable enhancements in both physical health and self-reported health outcomes, highlighting the effectiveness of integrated care that combines primary and behavioral health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Hope Health and Wellness Clinic: Outcomes of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness in a Bidirectional Integrated Care Clinic. Soberay, A., Tolle, LW., Kienitz, E., et al.[2021]

A study of 777 Chinese nurses revealed that their overall mental health literacy (MHL) was at a moderate level, with significant differences based on their work environment, education, and professional titles, indicating a need for targeted MHL promotion programs.

Nurses' mental health literacy was closely linked to their own mental health status, suggesting that improving MHL could enhance both their mental health and their ability to provide effective mental health services.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health literacy of Chinese nurses from public general and psychiatric hospitals: a cross-sectional study. Wang, A., Jia, S., Shi, Z., et al.[2023]

Rural left-behind children (LBC) in China have lower mental health literacy (MHL) regarding depression compared to non-left-behind children (NLBC), indicating a need for targeted educational interventions.

LBC are more hesitant to seek help for mental health issues, highlighting significant barriers to accessing support, which could be addressed through school-based programs and increased parental involvement.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health literacy about depression among rural left-behind children in China: a comparative and cross-sectional study. Sun, T., Tang, Q., Liu, D., et al.[2022]

This is the first comprehensive review identifying factors that enhance patient activation in individuals with mental health disorders, highlighting that better health status, less depression, and positive therapeutic relationships are associated with higher activation levels.

Educational programs have been found to be particularly effective in increasing patient activation, suggesting that clinicians should incorporate these interventions and assess activation regularly to improve treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Activation in persons with mental health disorders: An integrative review. Keen, A., Lu, Y., Oruche, UM., et al.[2021]

Research involving 40 randomized controlled studies shows that illness management strategies, such as psychoeducation and behavioral tailoring, significantly improve knowledge of mental illness and medication adherence among individuals with severe mental illness.

Programs focused on relapse prevention and coping skills training using cognitive-behavioral techniques effectively reduce symptom relapses and the severity of persistent symptoms, aiding in the recovery process.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Illness management and recovery: a review of the research. Mueser, KT., Corrigan, PW., Hilton, DW., et al.[2018]

A culturally adapted mental health literacy program in Malawi significantly improved knowledge and attitudes among 218 educators, with a substantial effect size (d = 1.16 for knowledge and d = 0.79 for attitudes) after a 3-day training.

The study suggests that integrating mental health literacy into school curricula can be an effective and sustainable approach to enhance mental health understanding among educators, potentially benefiting students as well if extended.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Malawian teachers' mental health knowledge and attitudes: an integrated school mental health literacy approach. Kutcher, S., Gilberds, H., Morgan, C., et al.[2022]

Mental health literacy (MHL) in Vietnam is perceived as low by mental health professionals, making it difficult for the public to access effective mental health services, as indicated by a study involving 82 professionals and focus groups.

Key barriers to improving MHL include misinformation in the media, lack of licensure for non-medical mental health professionals, and insufficient interest from leadership, highlighting areas that need attention for better mental health development in low-and-middle-income countries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health literacy at the public health level in low and middle income countries: An exploratory mixed methods study in Vietnam. Dang, HM., Lam, TT., Dao, A., et al.[2022]

The study developed a new patient-reported experience measure (PREMIUM-PSY) for psychological care, validated through a multicenter study with 443 patients suffering from severe mental disorders, demonstrating its effectiveness and efficiency.

Positive experiences reported by patients using PREMIUM-PSY were linked to significant improvements in both mental and physical quality of life, indicating that incorporating patient feedback can enhance psychological care outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing patient experience assessment with psychological care in severe mental disorders: A study of the PREMIUM program. Boyer, L., Fernandes, S., Brousse, Y., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05639881

Enhancing Immune Health Randomized Controlled Trial This study is testing the efficacy of a brief intervention designed to improve immune health literacy and behaviors among adults with mental illnesses. This ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/enhancing-immune-health-for-mental-illness-0be57

Enhancing Immune Health for Mental Illness This study tests a psychosocial intervention to improve immune health literacy and behaviors among adults with mental illnesses. Show more. Do I need to stop my ...

3. psych.uic.edu psych.uic.edu/research/center-on-mental-health-services-research-and-policy/our-research

Our Research - UIC Department of Psychiatry This randomized controlled trial study is testing a program called Enhancing Your Immune Health. The intervention is designed to improve immune health ...

4. center4healthandsdc.org center4healthandsdc.org/current-research--evaluation.html

Current Research & Evaluation This randomized controlled trial study is testing the effectiveness of an immune health literacy intervention called, Enhancing Your Immune Health. Learn ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7604758/

Mental health and immunity (Review) - PMC - PubMed Central Studies show that there is an important ability of psychosocial interventions to enhance immunity and improve immunity-related health outcomes. These studies ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10950738/

Improving mental health by improving the ... This study investigates whether a mHealth intervention based on mental health literacy may improve the mental health literacy and further aspects of ...

7. center4healthandsdc.org center4healthandsdc.org/enhancing-immune-health.html

Enhancing Immune Health The manual is designed for people in recovery from mental health conditions, but it can be used by anyone wanting to understand and enhance their immune health.

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11423657/

Influence of immunological awareness on enhancing ... Immunological awareness plays a pivotal role in promoting adherence to health instructions during public health emergencies.

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266635462400036X

The beneficial effects of social support and prosocial ... This article aims to examine the link between the social environment, the immune system, and health outcomes, with a particular focus on positive aspects like ...