Support Group for Veterans with Psychosis
(VVV Trial)
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
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants engage in the Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV) group-based, peer specialist co-facilitated psychosocial intervention
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for changes in social integration and psychotic symptoms after the intervention
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Support group
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Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor