25000 Participants NeededMy employer runs this trial

Digital Strategies for Psychotic Episodes

MB
Overseen ByMichael Birnbaum, MD
Age: < 65
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Columbia University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores digital strategies to assist young people at high risk of developing psychosis, a condition involving hallucinations or delusions. The goal is to encourage individuals to seek help sooner by using personalized digital nudges and connecting them to local care programs. Participants will join different groups that use various prompts to determine which methods most effectively motivate them to seek help. This trial suits individuals aged 12-29 who live near a participating site and show signs of being at risk for psychosis. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could shape future mental health interventions.

What prior data suggests that these digital strategies are safe for advancing help-seeking in youth at risk for psychosis?

Past studies have shown promising results for digital tools designed to help young people with early signs of psychosis. Research suggests these methods are generally safe and effectively encourage early help-seeking. For example, digital cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) tools and apps have been well-received, showing positive results in managing symptoms without major side effects.

Studies have found that internet and mobile apps can connect young people with mental health resources, helping them access treatment faster. Users have accepted this approach well, with no major safety concerns reported. Digital tools have also been effective in engaging participants, supporting study recruitment, and collecting data through surveys.

Overall, the digital methods under exploration aim to improve how young people seek help and are considered safe based on past research. These tools offer an accessible way to support young people at risk of psychosis without significant risks or negative effects.12345

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the "Digital Strategies to Advance Help-Seeking" trial because it explores innovative digital nudges to encourage individuals experiencing psychotic episodes to seek help. Unlike traditional treatments that often involve medication or therapy, this trial leverages digital techniques to enhance self-efficacy and manage perceived risks and outcomes in a personalized way. By using digital interventions, it aims to make help-seeking more accessible and timely, potentially leading to earlier intervention and better management of psychosis symptoms.

What evidence suggests that this trial's digital strategies could be effective for advancing help-seeking in youth at risk for psychosis?

This trial will evaluate different digital strategies to encourage help-seeking among young people with early signs of psychosis. Studies have shown that digital tools can help young people access treatment more quickly. For example, research indicates that mobile apps and online resources can prompt individuals to seek help, leading to better long-term outcomes. A review of studies also found that digital methods, such as online learning, can enhance understanding and support for those with psychotic symptoms. Additionally, digital tools can facilitate patient involvement and the use of technology in managing psychotic disorders. These findings suggest that digital strategies can effectively promote early help-seeking and improve overall care for youth at risk of psychosis.24678

Who Is on the Research Team?

MB

Michael Birnbaum, MD

Principal Investigator

Columbia University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

I live within 50 miles of the study site.
I am between 13 and 26 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks
Online screening

Digital Strategy Development

Iterative development and testing of digital strategies to advance help-seeking using Micro-Randomized Trials

Ongoing

Help-Seeking Advancement

Participants engage in digital strategies to advance from online screening to clinical assessment and treatment initiation

2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement and advancement in help-seeking behavior

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

  • Digital Strategies to Advance Help-Seeking

How Is the Trial Designed?

4

Treatment groups

Active Control

Group I: Self-Efficacy NudgeActive Control1 Intervention
Group II: Needs/Risks NudgeActive Control1 Intervention
Group III: Outcome expectationsActive Control1 Intervention
Group IV: Neutral nudgeActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Columbia University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,529
Recruited
2,832,000+

Mental Health America

Collaborator

Trials
3
Recruited
50,700+

University of Washington

Collaborator

Trials
1,858
Recruited
2,023,000+

Strong365

Collaborator

Trials
1
Recruited
50,000+

University of California, Davis

Collaborator

Trials
958
Recruited
4,816,000+

University of California, San Francisco

Collaborator

Trials
2,636
Recruited
19,080,000+

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Collaborator

Trials
3,007
Recruited
2,852,000+

Citations

Digital Strategies to Accelerate Help-Seeking in Youth With ...

Lastly, the presence of common psychotic symptoms themselves, such as paranoia, may result in mistrust of our efforts and rapid disengagement.

A Systematic Review on Digitally-Delivered Interventions - PMC

A web-based e-learning resource was developed to improve the understanding of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders among family members and caregivers ...

Social Media and Early Psychosis Intervention - Springer Nature

Impact of online resources and social media on help-seeking behaviour in youth with psychotic symptoms. Early Interv Psychiatry. 2016;10(5): ...

Effects of Actissist, a digital health intervention for early ...

We hypothesised that participants receiving Actissist plus usual care would have lower total psychotic symptom scores post-randomization compared to those ...

14. Using Digital Health to Connect Young Adults with Early ...

This talk explores how mobile apps can help young adults at risk for psychosis connect with treatment sooner, improving long-term outcomes.

Digital Strategies to Accelerate Help-Seeking in Youth With ...

Youth overwhelmingly report utilizing the Internet to gather information while psychiatric symptoms emerge, however, most are not yet ready to ...

Digital Interventions for the Rehabilitation of First-Episode ...

Digital CBT interventions, like Sleepio, show promise in improving insomnia and mental health in first-episode psychosis. Feasibility metrics ...

Using Digital Tools to Engage Patients With Psychosis and ...

Our results suggest that digital tools can support effective recruitment, consenting, and survey administration among people with psychosis ...