Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Conditions
Keywords
mental health consumers
Brief summary
This study aims to test a new device called the Social Skills Coach that is being created to help mental health consumers with social skills and community functioning. People diagnosed with schizophrenia and clinicians will be included as participants in this study. Mental health consumers (diagnosed with schizophrenia) will be randomly assigned to either test the new device or to participate in a social skills training course. Data will be collected from participants through surveys before participants either use the device or participate the course and afterwards. Individual interviews will be conducted with a sub sample of mental health consumers and clinicians. The study looks to test the credibility and acceptability of the new device to help mental health consumers and clinicians. it will also influence future research.
Detailed description
This phase I pilot study tests the feasibility, credibility, and acceptability of the prototype version of Social Skills Coach in terms of its use among mental health consumers and clinicians. The intervention aims to improve social and daily living skills and community functioning among people diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. A mixed methods approach will be taken to collect quantitative data at baseline and follow-up. Quantitative data collection includes the use of surveys that comprise validated instruments. Qualitative data collection will occur at the end of the study and will include the use of semi-structured interviews to capture experiential information. Study participants will be randomly assigned to either a social skills training course (control group) or to a study arm using the Social Skills Coach program (treatment group). The study aims to demonstrate proof of concept for a larger effectiveness trial.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALSocial Skills Coach
Social Skills Coach is a multi-platform interactive device that engages users with information and skills learned in social skills training programs. The program includes a web application and provider dashboard and encourages users to practice skills on the app and use them in the real world and then report how the application of skills was experienced.
Sponsors
University of Maryland
VA Maryland Health Care System
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Center for Social Innovation, Massachusetts
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Research assistants who conduct assessments with participants will be blinded as to whether participants have been assigned to the intervention or control group.
Intervention model description
Convergent parallel mixed methods
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Chart diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, ability to provide consent, and independent living in the community. * We will obtain written informed consent, and the consent procedure will include an evaluation of capacity to provide consent
Exclusion criteria
* Under age 21 or not able to provide consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility: 90% recruitment, 75% data completed, 80% technical problems solved | 4 weeks post intervention | Study Process: Recruitment, Retention, Troubleshooting |
| Credibility: Mean greater than 6 on Expectancy Rating Scale | 4 weeks post intervention | Expectancy Rating Scale collected from client participants |
| Acceptability: 80% of participants engage at least once; 50% of group attendees enter personalized goals; 50% of participants enter an evaluation goal | 4 weeks post intervention | Web diagnostics and through Qualitative interviews with client participants and SST trainer participants |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed