Bipolar Disorders, Depression, Mood Disorders
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study to evaluate peer-led mutual help organizations (MHOs) that target individuals with psychiatric diagnoses such as mood disorders, and provide evidence either supporting the expansion of such groups and the development and testing of clinical procedures, or point toward reevaluation and development of alternative low-cost, community based approaches to promoting recovery among individuals suffering from these disorders.
Detailed description
Participants will include up to 200 participants from The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) for Aim 1. Aim 1 will measure characteristics of current DBSA members through cross-sectional surveys of demographics, clinical use history, and involvement in DBSA. 60 new DBSA members who began attending in the past month will be enrolled for Aim 2. Aim 3 will consist of 100 matched controls of people who have never attended a DBSA meeting. Assessments will be completed at McLean Hospital, in which a study staff member will thoroughly explain the study to participants. If participants are eligible for Aim 2, study staff will receive written consent from the participant.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Massachusetts General Hospital
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
OTHER
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Aim 1: * 18 years of age or older * Self-report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder * Attend DBSA meetings * Aim 2: * 18 years of age or older * Self-report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder * Have attended their first meeting in the past month * Aim 3: * 18 years of age or older * Self-report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder * Have never attended a DBSA meeting
Exclusion criteria
* Aim 1: * Do not report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder * Have not attended a DBSA meeting * Aim 2: * Do not report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder * Have not attended a DBSA meeting * Have attended their first meeting prior to a month before their assessment * Aim 3: * Do not report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder * Have attended a DBSA meeting
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Systematically gather empirical estimates of the characteristics of current DBSA participants through a cross-sectional survey of demographics, clinical service, and past and current DBSA attendance, involvement, and subjective benefits. | Up to 24 months | The goal is to describe and characterize DBSA participants and obtain information on subjective benefits. |
| Provide estimates of rates of attendance, retention in, and discontinuation from DBSA for new DBSA members with mood disorders. | Up to 24 months | Determine which DBSA participants are more likely to attend more frequently/become more engaged. |
| Conduct a prospective between-group investigation comparing new DBSA members to a matched control group with no prior exposure to DBSA in order to test for beneficial affects of DBSA over a 6-month follow up. | Up to 24 months | Compare new DBSA members to a matched control group in order to test for any potential incremental beneficial effects from DBSA participation. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed