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

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The purpose of this study is to pilot test a peer-delivered decision support intervention ("peer decision coaching") designed to enhance decision-making about community participation among young adults with serious mental illness (SMI).

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Peer decision coaching for mental illness?

Research shows that shared decision making, which is a key part of peer decision coaching, helps people with severe mental illnesses become more involved in their treatment and feel more satisfied with their care. Peer support workers, who help with decision making, can improve health outcomes by assisting individuals in understanding their treatment options and making informed choices. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is peer decision coaching for mental illness safe for humans?

The available research on peer decision coaching for mental illness suggests it is generally safe. Studies report high acceptability and practicality, with no significant safety concerns noted during interventions. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

How is peer decision coaching different from other treatments for mental illness?

Peer decision coaching is unique because it involves trained peers who have lived experience with mental illness helping others make informed decisions about their treatment. This approach emphasizes shared decision-making and personal empowerment, which can lead to better engagement and outcomes compared to traditional treatments that may not involve peer support. ^{1 4 5 9 10}

Research Team

Elizabeth Thomas, PhD

Principal Investigator

Temple University

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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]

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]

References

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

Best practices: a program to support shared decision making in an outpatient psychiatric medication clinic. [2017]

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

Development of a Shared Decision Making Model in a Community Mental Health Center. [2020]

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

Clinical decision making and outcome in the routine care of people with severe mental illness across Europe (CEDAR). [2022]

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

Peer-Facilitated Decision Making in Mental Health: Promises, Pitfalls, and Recommendations for Research and Practice. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Facilitating treatment engagement for early psychosis through peer-delivered decision support: intervention development and protocol for pilot evaluation. [2023]

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

Collaborative decision skills training: Feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a novel intervention. [2020]

7. England 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. [2023]

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

The Texas Medication Algorithm Project Patient and Family Education Program: a consumer-guided initiative. [2019]

9. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peer-counseling in schizophrenia: patients consult patients. [2019]

10. Canada 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]. [2015]