Topic: Mental Health
Conditions
Interventions
Befriending scheme: Patient participants will be individually matched with a volunteer companion. During the 12 months of the intervention, the patient and companion volunteer will meet on a weekly ba
Sponsors
Queen Mary University of London (UK)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: For patient participants: 1. A diagnosis of schizophrenia or a related disorder (ICD-10:F20-29) 2. Being socially isolated i.e. spending on average less than 60 mins a day in social activities as measured by the TUS (Time Use Scale) 3. Willingness to receive regular one-to-one input from a volunteer participant over a period of 12 months 4. Aged between 18-65 5. Sufficient spoken and written English to converse with a volunteer participant on a regular basis and ability to fill in any necessary paperwork and forms 6. Being in the care of the community mental health team for a minimum of two months 7. Capacity to provide informed consent For volunteer participants: 1. 18 or more years of age 2. Willingness to provide regular one-to-one input to a patient with mental illness over a one year period 3. Willingness to participate in appropriate training and supervision 4. Sufficient command of English to be interviewed/fill out forms in English and to regularly converse with the patient 5. DBS checks show no major criminal convictions (e.g., sexual offences)
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: For patient participants: 1. Severe physical disability sufficient to prevent them in participating in community activities. 2. Learning disability 3. Having received a one to one volunteer input scheme in the last 2 years in the community (e.g., befriending, companion, peer support) 4. Currently receiving inpatient care from mental health care services 5. Evidence of history of physical violence 6. Currently in another research study For volunteer participants: 1. Having received care for a mental health illness from secondary or primary care services in the last 12 months 2. Current professional role in secondary mental health service 3. Severe physical disability sufficient to prevent them in participating in community activities 4. Lack of understanding of the responsibilities and characteristics of the volunteer role despite having received appropriate training 5. Unspent convictions of fraud, theft, violent assault or sexual offenses as identified on the DBS check
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Time use; Timepoint(s): Baseline; 6 months; 12 months (i.e. end of the intervention); 18 months (i.e. 6 months follow-up) | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Assessment of therapeutic relationship STAR; Timepoint(s): 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 2. Attitudes to mental health; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 3. Beck Depression Inventory BDI-II; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 4. CAINS; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 5. CSRI; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 6. EQ-5D-5L; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 7. PANSS; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 8. Self-esteem; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 9. Social contacts; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) 10. Subjective Quality of Life; Timepoint(s): Baseline, 6 month, 12 month (i.e. end of the intervention), 18 months (i.e. 6 month follow-up) | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactHana Pavlickova
Outcome results
None listed