None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Psychotropic medications can lead to metabolic health issues among adolescents and young adults. One way to mitigate its impact is through lifestyle modification. Lifestyle interventions, which target behaviours related to diet, physical activity, sleep, and tobacco use, have been shown to be effective in improving the metabolic health of individuals taking antipsychotic medications. However, there are barriers to accessing and engaging in these interventions for consumers, for example cost and geographical distance. This study aims to develop a digital personalised lifestyle intervention that targets key lifestyle behaviours, Growing minds Feeling Good (GMFG), that has the flexibility to be both personalised, and delivered in a self-directed manner. The study will evaluate the feasibility of the GMFG intervention. We will recruit about 38 young people aged 13 to 24 years, and randomise participants into two groups. The intervention group will receive 12 weeks of GMFG intervention, and the control group will not receive the intervention before all the assessments are completed. Primary outcomes of interest will be the feasibility outcomes (i.e., their engagement in the intervention, as well as their feedback on the program), secondary outcomes of interest will be health-related behaviours and knowledge, and metabolic health (e.g., body mass index, blood pressure, and blood glucose and lipid level).
Interventions
The Growing Minds Feeling Good (GMFG) intervention is a 12-week digital lifestyle program for young people aged 13–24 taking psychotropic medications. The intervention consists of evidence-based modules covering nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and nicotine cessation, adapted from the Keeping the Body in Mind (KBIM) program (Curtis et al., 2024). Content is delivered via a microlearning platform as bite-sized, mobile-first digital modules, including short written articles, interactive activi
The Growing Minds Feeling Good (GMFG) intervention is a 12-week digital lifestyle program for young people aged 13–24 taking psychotropic medications. The intervention consists of evidence-based modules covering nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and nicotine cessation, adapted from the Keeping the Body in Mind (KBIM) program (Curtis et al., 2024). Content is delivered via a microlearning platform as bite-sized, mobile-first digital modules, including short written articles, interactive activities (goal-setting exercises, self-monitoring tools, quizzes), infographics, and embedded links to supporting resources. The platform is accessible with one click and does not require app downloads or logins. The intervention content and delivery frequency have been refined based on results of a prior stakeholder consultation. At baseline, participants complete validated assessment measures for each lifestyle risk factor with a trained research assistant. Participants receive simple feedback on their results, aligned to specific modules, indicating whether there may be room for improvement in each area. Feedback is guided by thresholds set by the authors of each measure and delivered in a strengths-based and recovery-oriented manner. The initial module focuses on goal setting, which participants use to plan their progression through the remaining modules. Participants decide the order in which they progress through different GMFG modules based on their personal preferences and priorities. Participants then complete the intervention over 12 weeks, with each weekly module designed to be completed in approximately 15–30 minutes. Additional optional activities and resources are available within each module. The intervention is self-directed, with clinical oversight provided by the research team. A research team member conducts weekly check-ins with participants to ensure safety, monitor progress, and answer questions. Adherence to the intervention is monitored through: (1) platform analytics on the microlearning platform, which track module completion rates, time spent on content, and progression through the program; (2) weekly check-ins with a trained research assistant, during which participants are asked whether they have used the program that week and their estimated engagement time; and (3) study records tracking completion of assessment questionnaires at each timepoint (baseline, 12 weeks, 6 months) administered via UNSW REDCap. Participants in the intervention group are assessed at baseline (t1 = Week 0), post-intervention (t2 = Week 12), and follow-up (t3 = 6 months). Cardiometabolic health data is collected from participants' routine clinical care appointments and self-reported via UNSW REDCap. [1] Curtis et al., "Implementation of a lifestyle and life-skills intervention to prevent weight-gain and cardiometabolic abnormalities in young people with first-episode psychosis as part of routine care: The Keeping the Body in Mind program," Early Interv. Psychiatry, pp. 1–8, Feb. 2024.
Sponsors
UNSW Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
13 Years to 24 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
• Aged 13 to 24 years of age • Taking psychotropic medications (e.g., antipsychotics) that can result in weight gain and therefore have been scheduled health service clinic appointments to monitor physical health • Are able to consent for themselves to participate in the study • Are capable of understanding and completing the intervention on their own
Exclusion criteria
• Individuals already undertaking the Keeping the Body in Mind program or similar. • Individuals who are unable to consent for and participate in the study on their own. • Not proficient in English or unable to understand and effectively communicate in English. • Child or young person who currently have or previously have been diagnosed with bulimia nervosa or anorexia nervosa.
Outcome results
None listed