Peer Decision Coaching for Mental Illness

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Elizabeth Thomas, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Temple University

Disqualifiers: Informed consent, Legal restrictions, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new approach called peer decision coaching, a supportive therapy designed to help young adults with serious mental health challenges make better decisions about community participation. The goal is to determine if this support improves engagement in work, school, or social activities. Young adults aged 18–30 with conditions like schizophrenia or major depression, who feel they aren't participating in as many community activities as they'd like, might be a good fit for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative support methods for enhancing community involvement.

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

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on decision-making support rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that this peer decision coaching is safe for young adults with serious mental illness?

Research has shown that peer decision coaching is safe and well-received. Studies indicate that peer support often leads to positive results without causing harm. Participants in these programs report benefits such as reduced anxiety and improved self-confidence. These studies have reported no negative effects, suggesting that peer decision coaching is a safe choice for those considering joining a trial focused on decision-making and community involvement. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about Peer Decision Coaching for mental illness because it offers a fresh approach that involves patients more directly in their treatment choices. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication or psychotherapy directed by clinicians, this method empowers individuals by partnering them with peers who have firsthand experience with mental illness. These peers help guide participants through their decision-making process, potentially leading to more personalized and satisfactory treatment outcomes. This approach not only fosters a sense of community and understanding but also enhances patient engagement and adherence, which are crucial for successful management of mental health conditions.

What evidence suggests that peer decision coaching is effective for enhancing decision-making in young adults with serious mental illness?

Research shows that a peer coach can be helpful in mental health care. For individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), peer support has led to small improvements in quality of life. Studies also suggest that peer support can reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Making decisions with peer assistance may lead to better choices and health outcomes. Overall, evidence suggests that peer coaching might help individuals with mental illness become more active in their communities. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elizabeth Thomas, PhD

Principal Investigator

Temple University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young adults aged 18-30 with serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia or major affective disorders, who feel they're not participating enough in community activities. They should want to improve their involvement and be able to make decisions about their participation.

Inclusion Criteria

Current sufficiency of community participation of 50% or less

I have a severe mental illness like schizophrenia or major depression that affects my daily life.

I can name 2 ways I want to be more involved in my community soon.

Exclusion Criteria

I face legal or guardianship restrictions that limit my decision-making.

I am unable to understand and give consent for the trial.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in the Peer Decision Coaching intervention to enhance decision-making about community participation

up to 3 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in decision-making and community participation outcomes

up to 3 months post-baseline

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Peer decision coaching

Trial Overview The study tests 'peer decision coaching,' where individuals with similar experiences help participants make better choices about engaging in community activities. It aims to empower those with SMI to increase their social involvement.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Peer decision coaching arm Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

All participants will engage in the Peer Decision Coaching intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Temple University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

321

Recruited

89,100+

National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research

Collaborator

Trials

83

Recruited

10,500+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A novel skills training intervention called collaborative decision skills training (CDST) was found to be feasible for outpatients with serious mental illness, with high acceptability and practicality among participants.

Participants in the CDST program reported increased personal recovery and improved knowledge and skills related to collaborative decision-making, suggesting positive preliminary evidence of its efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Collaborative decision skills training: Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a novel intervention. Treichler, EBH., Avila, A., Evans, EA., et al.[2020]

A low-tech Shared Decision Making (SDM) program was successfully implemented in a community mental health center, showing that it can enhance treatment outcomes for clients with severe mental illnesses.

The integration of SDM with existing psychiatric rehabilitation practices improved clients' decisional certainty and satisfaction with services, indicating its effectiveness in mental health settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a Shared Decision Making Model in a Community Mental Health Center. Paudel, S., Sharma, N., Joshi, A., et al.[2020]

The program involved 29 peer mentors, who are individuals with lived experience of psychiatric disorders, and aimed to transform public psychiatry practices towards recovery, showing that peer mentorship can positively influence consumer perceptions of mental illness and the healthcare system.

Consumers reported that interactions with peer mentors fostered a sense of camaraderie and hope, highlighting the importance of voluntary, informal, and supportive relationships in mental health care, which can enhance the therapeutic experience.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Encounters between peer workers and users of psychiatry in France: general characteristics and effects of the device on the representations of users. Part 1]. Demailly, L., Garnoussi, N.[2015]

Focus groups with 18 participants (8 service users and 10 psychiatrists) highlighted the need for a decision aid (DA) that is adaptable to different user needs and mental health conditions, emphasizing its potential usefulness in inpatient settings for selecting antipsychotics.

The digital format of the DA was particularly favored, with suggestions for it to include features like information dissemination through an app, indicating a strong interest in technology-enhanced tools for shared decision-making in mental health care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Informing the development of a decision aid: Expectations and wishes from service users and psychiatrists towards a decision aid for antipsychotics in the inpatient setting. Müller, K., Schuster, F., Krumm, S., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10038377/

The effectiveness of peer support from a person with lived ... One study successfully reduced anxiety and depression, another reduced depression only, four reported reductions in negative affect, with the ...

2. psychiatryonline.org psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.20220086

Peer-Facilitated Decision Making in Mental Health Peer-facilitated decision support may be associated with positive decision making and health outcomes for service users and peer support workers ...

3. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-020-02923-3

The effectiveness of one-to-one peer support in mental health ... One-to-one peer support in mental health services might impact positively on psychosocial outcomes, but is unlikely to improve clinical outcomes.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4167169/

Effectiveness of peer-delivered interventions for severe mental ... For SMI, evidence from three high-quality superiority trials showed small positive effects favouring peer-delivered interventions for quality of life (SMD 0.24, ...

5. mental.jmir.org mental.jmir.org/2020/4/e16460/

Digital Peer Support Mental Health Interventions for People ... Conclusions: Digital peer support interventions appear to be feasible and acceptable, with strong potential for clinical effectiveness. However, ...

6. mass.gov mass.gov/doc/peer-based-health-interventions-submitted-by-kim-krawczyk/download

Peer-based health interventions for people with serious ... Health interventions delivered by peer specialists or co-facilitated by peer specialists and health pro- fessionals can help improve the physical health of ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12254959/

The “Paths to everyday life” peer support intervention for ... Based on positive findings from numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs), peer support seems effective to improve personal recovery among ...

8. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hex.70134

Supported Decision‐Making Interventions in Mental ... There is favourable evidence for these types of interventions in improving some outcomes for people with mental ill health, more so than ...

9. awspntest.apa.org awspntest.apa.org/record/2026-72472-005

Decision making, recovery, and peer support. This chapter focuses on the special role of peer support (both mutual mechanisms as well as formal peer services) in recovery and decision making.