The purpose of this study is to test a peer-led intervention intended to promote the community living and participation of individuals with psychiatric disabilities entitled "Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice" (BCGP). The intervention targets increasing community involvement of individuals with psychiatric disabilities through reduction in self-stigma and perceived stigma, enhancing opportunities for community participation, and support to achieve community participation goals.
The BCGP intervention is 6 months long and the investigators expect that participants will experience lower self and perceived stigma, increased community participation and sense of belonging, and improved psychosocial functioning and personal growth after the intervention. The intervention is comprised of a 12-week class that meets once a week for two hours, followed by three booster sessions - one per month in the three months following the class, and up to 24 sessions of individual support as needed throughout the 6 months provided on a weekly basis either in person or by phone. The purpose of the individual support is to reinforce the class activities and to ensure the participants meets their community participation goal. The proposed study is a randomized trial which will be conducted at Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation (BUCPR) in Massachusetts, the Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) in Colorado, and the Greater Bridgeport Mental Health Center (GBMHC) in Connecticut.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
197
Participants assigned to this group will be part of the 6-month long BCGP intervention, which involves a 12- week class that meets weekly, followed by three booster sessions - one per month in the three months following the class, and up to 24 sessions of individual support as needed throughout the 6 months provided on a weekly basis either in person or by phone. The BCGP classes follow a manualized curriculum with sessions that combine didactic information, Photovoice exercises, and group discussions to empower participants in pursuing community participation goals, all refined with input from individuals with a lived experience.
Mental Health Center of Denver
Denver, Colorado, United States
Greater Bridgeport Mental Health Center
Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
Boston University, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Horizon House- Riverside Community Care
Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States
UCLA Loneliness Scale
is a 20-item 4-point Likert-type scale, widely used measure of loneliness and social isolation. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranging from .89 to .94.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months
Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Community Participation
Consists of a set of objective and subjective measures of community belonging, inclusion and participation.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months
Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale
29-item, 4-point scale from (strongly disagree to strongly agree) assesses behaviors, thoughts and feelings that are self-stigmatizing including alienation, stereotype endorsement, social withdrawal, stigma resistance.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months
The Stigma Scale
28 item, 5 point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) measuring experienced and anticipated stigma.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months, 3 months to 6 months, 6 months to 9 months, 9 months to 12 months
Approaches to Coping with Anti-Stigma
27-item instrument with a 4 point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) measuring strategies to cope with stigma: secrecy, withdrawal, educating, challenging, and distancing.
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months
Personal Growth and Recovery Scale
25-item, 4 point scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) of items measuring psychosocial functioning and recovery.
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Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months
Community Goal Achievement Scale
adapted from Goal Attainment Scale, provides a structured approach to determining goal achievement regardless of the type or uniqueness of goal .
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months
Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS - R)
A 24-item scale that measures: mood disturbances, anxiety, interpersonal and role functioning, daily living skills, psychotic symptoms, impulsivity and substance use
Time frame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months