Support Group for Veterans with Psychosis

(VVV Trial)

Overseen By Sonya E Gabrielian, MD MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

Disqualifiers: Substance-induced psychosis, Neurological disease, Head injury, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

38 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Veterans with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) struggle with social integration - participation in work, housing, and citizenship - due to symptoms, stigma, and psychosocial challenges. Despite considerable VA efforts to provide mental health care to Veterans with SMI, programs that promote social integration are lacking. Veterans with SMI are at especially high risk for poor social integration and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This project addresses this need with a group-based, peer specialist (PS) co-facilitated psychosocial intervention for Veterans with SMI, called "Veteran Voices and Visions" (VVV). VVV targets Veterans with SMI who experience psychosis, a group particularly in need of support with social integration. Virtual VVV groups are co-led by VA mental health clinicians (MHCs) and PSs via online video conference. The approach facilitates group cohesion around and normalization of the common psychotic symptoms of SMI: hallucinations, delusions, and social isolation. This intervention has the potential to create and foster a supportive community that improves the social integration of participants by reducing their distress and self-stigma, and increasing self-efficacy.

Research Team

Ippolytos A Kalofonos, MD PhD MPH

Principal Investigator

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for veterans with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) who experience symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and social isolation. Participants must have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar with psychosis or depression with psychosis. Veterans cannot join if they've had a serious head injury causing unconsciousness over an hour or have significant neurological diseases or substance-induced psychosis.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia or bipolar with psychosis.

Exclusion Criteria

Substance-induced psychosis

History of serious head injury with loss of consciousness > 1 hour.

I have a serious nerve or brain condition.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in the Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV) group-based, peer specialist co-facilitated psychosocial intervention

12 weeks

Weekly virtual group sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in social integration and psychotic symptoms after the intervention

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Support group

Trial Overview The 'Veteran Voices and Visions' (VVV) program is being tested to help these veterans integrate socially. It's a support group co-led by mental health clinicians and peer specialists through online video conferences that aims to reduce distress and stigma while boosting self-confidence.

Participant Groups

Group I: Veteran Voices & Visions (VVV) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This is the experimental condition, testing the manual the investigators have developed.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,691

Recruited

3,759,000+