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

Trial Summary

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Enhancing Your Immune Health, Enhancing Immune Health, Immune Health Literacy Program for mental illness?

Research shows that educational programs and patient involvement in treatment can lead to better mental health outcomes, such as reduced symptoms and improved recovery. Programs that increase patient activation, which means having the confidence and skills to manage one's health, are effective in improving mental health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Enhancing Immune Health treatment different from other treatments for mental illness?

The Enhancing Immune Health treatment is unique because it focuses on improving mental health literacy, which involves understanding mental health issues and making informed health decisions. This approach is different from traditional treatments that may focus solely on medication or therapy, as it aims to empower patients with knowledge to manage their mental health effectively. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study tests a psychosocial intervention to improve immune health literacy and behaviors among adults with mental illnesses.

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

References

1. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancing patient experience assessment with psychological care in severe mental disorders: A study of the PREMIUM program. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bridging the Gap Between Individualized Inpatient Safety Planning and Postdischarge Efficacy. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Activation in persons with mental health disorders: An integrative review. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Hope Health and Wellness Clinic: Outcomes of Individuals with Serious Mental Illness in a Bidirectional Integrated Care Clinic. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Illness management and recovery: a review of the research. [2018]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Broad Examination of Mental Health Literacy Among College Students in the United States. [2023]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Malawian teachers' mental health knowledge and attitudes: an integrated school mental health literacy approach. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health literacy of Chinese nurses from public general and psychiatric hospitals: a cross-sectional study. [2023]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mental health literacy about depression among rural left-behind children in China: a comparative and cross-sectional study. [2022]

10. United States 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. [2022]