This study aims to test the feasibility and acceptability of a brief behavioral intervention that combines two treatments, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), that have been shown to work in prior research studies. The format of the intervention will be a combination of in-person sessions and remote elements delivered via mobile phone (together called MI-CBTech). The goal of the intervention is to improve community integration in Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI) who have experienced homelessness. A time- and format-matched control arm will include remote mindfulness training. 50 Veterans with SMI experiencing homelessness will be randomized to one of the two arms (25 per arm).
For Veterans experiencing homelessness, permanent housing is only the first step in achieving stability and improved quality of life. Even after attaining permanent housing, many Veterans continue to struggle with many aspects of functioning and day-to-day living. In addition, as Veterans move from temporary to permanent housing, they are at risk of falling out of mental healthcare and other VA services. One of the reasons this transition is so challenging is that in-person interventions, while well-suited for residential treatment programs, are less suitable for Veterans as they leave the VA campus and acquire housing at widely distributed locations. However, few behavioral treatments designed to improve daily functioning, including community integration, have been applied and tested during this transitional period. Whether this kind of treatment could be effective in improving engagement and increasing continuity of care for these Veterans is not known. Furthermore, remote interventions can overcome the disadvantages associated with long distance transportation challenges for therapy appointments and scheduling difficulties. Digital technology can provide innovative solutions to these treatment barriers and help close the access gap to meet the needs of previously homeless Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI). Technology-based treatments administered remotely via mobile smartphone applications have proven popular and successful in helping people build psychotherapy skills and manage mental health symptoms in real-world settings. Technology-based interventions can be easily disseminated, increasing access while reducing costs associated with face-to-face clinical care. Among homeless and SMI populations, smartphone use is quite high and research data indicate a willingness to use mobile applications for healthcare, whether in a clinical or research setting. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a structured, time-limited treatment that focuses on changing maladaptive thoughts and problematic behaviors that interfere with functioning. Goals for therapy can focus on improved functioning in several aspects of daily living, including community integration. While CBT shows promise in improving community integration in individuals with SMI experiencing homelessness, individuals may still have low motivation to engage with and adhere to treatment. Studies integrating Motivational Interviewing (MI) with CBT have shown positive results for a variety of disorders, including serious mental illness. MI increases initiation and maintenance of behavioral change. Brief application of MI prior to CBT (MI-CBT) has been shown to enhance treatment engagement and improve outcomes. Importantly, the efficacy of augmenting individualized MI-CBT with digital tools in a homeless SMI Veteran population has not been evaluated. Therefore, it is not known whether administration of some aspects of an MI-CBT intervention via remote smartphone application might improve engagement and maintain therapeutic gains in this population. This study will test the feasibility and acceptability of an 8-week MI-CBT intervention enhanced with mobile technology (MI-CBTech) to improve community integration in homeless Veterans with SMI. A time- and format-matched control arm will include remote mindfulness training. 50 Veterans with SMI experiencing homelessness will be randomized to one of the two arms (25 per arm). Participants will be administered interviews (symptom ratings and community functioning), and performance-based assessments of cognitive ability at an in-person baseline visit. Participants will then be randomly assigned to one of two intervention arms: MI-CBTech or a mindfulness control, by recruiters who are blind to condition assignment. Both treatment arms will consist of 8 weeks of active intervention, including three individual in-person sessions occurring over the first 2 week period (3 MI sessions for MI-CBTech and 3 supportive therapy sessions for the control arm) followed by 6 weeks of mobile phone application use. During the period of remote application use, both arms will have phone check-ins during weeks 2, 4, and 6 to obtain information on application use and troubleshoot any potential problems with compliance or completion. Following completion of active treatment, participants will undergo a repeat assessment of symptom ratings and community functioning (8-week end of treatment assessment). Participants will then complete a final evaluation of symptoms ratings and community functioning as well as an exit interview (follow-up assessment 16 weeks after baseline). Total assessment time is 4 hrs for the baseline assessment and 2 hrs for the end of treatment and follow-up assessments. Both the end of treatment and follow-up assessments may be completed in-person or remotely via telephone or videoconference depending on participant preference. The remote portions of both intervention arms will be administered via participant's own smartphones. For otherwise eligible Veterans who do not own a smartphone, iPad, tablet, or other device, the investigators will help them obtain one. This study has the potential to fill key gaps in treatment options for this high priority population during a critical transition period and will help guide a future large-scale randomized controlled trial utilizing these interventions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
50
Three in-person MI sessions focused on identifying goals for community integration (in the areas of vocational, recreational, social, or independent living activities) and unhelpful thinking that tends to get in the way of those goals, building motivation for goals, introducing participants to the CBT model and its potential benefits, and downloading and orienting them to the mobile phone application. Six weeks of mobile phone application use to guide participants through CBT. Weekly content will be provided to learn and practice CBT skills to address unhelpful thinking and problem solving to address obstacles to goal attainment. There will be brief content pages worksheets to guide participants through practice. The worksheets will be tailored to each participant, framing the skills around their pre-identified goals and unhelpful thinking patterns. The application will also include access to crisis resources.
Three in-person supportive therapy sessions focused on empathic listening during client-led discussions of presenting concerns, introducing participants to mindfulness (defined as noticing and paying attention to the present moment without judgment), and downloading and orienting them to the mobile phone application. Participants will be informed of potential benefits of mindfulness, including stress reduction and increased self-awareness. Six weeks of mindfulness training mobile application use to help participants learn to practice mindfulness through a gradual, self-guided training program. The application offers a library of information about mindfulness, 12 different audio-guided mindfulness exercises, goal-setting and tracking, customizable reminders, and access to crisis resources.
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
West Los Angeles, California, United States
RECRUITINGBaseline assessment completion rate
The investigators will assess feasibility of both MI-CBTech and mindfulness control treatment arms based on recruitment using a completion rate of at least 80% for the baseline in-person assessment.
Time frame: At baseline, prior to randomization
End of treatment assessment completion rate
The investigators will assess feasibility of both MI-CBTech and mindfulness control treatment arms based on retention. Specifically, at least 70% of randomized participants will complete the end of treatment assessment.
Time frame: End of 8-week treatment phase
Remote treatment adherence rate
The investigators will assess tolerability of MI-CBTech based on adherence. Specifically, over 80% of participants will complete at least 70% of application use for a minimum of one hour per week and homework assignments.
Time frame: End of 8-week treatment phase
Satisfaction rating index
The investigators will assess acceptability of MI-CBTech based on subjective satisfaction. Specifically, at least 75% will report average participant ratings (on a scale of 1 to 10) of a minimum of 7.5 on the composite satisfaction index obtained during exit interview.
Time frame: At study completion, typically 16 weeks after randomization
Screen failure rate
The investigators will assess feasibility of both MI-CBTech and mindfulness control treatment arms based on recruitment using a screening failure rate (fraction of potential participants who complete the consent process but are deemed ineligible) of no more than 40%.
Time frame: At screening, prior to enrollment
Follow-up assessment completion rate
The investigators will assess feasibility of both MI-CBTech and mindfulness control treatment arms based on retention. Specifically, at least 70% of randomized participants will complete the follow-up assessment.
Time frame: 8-weeks after end of treatment
In-person treatment completion rate
The investigators will assess tolerability of MI-CBTech based on adherence using a completion rate of at least 80% for the in-person treatment sessions.
Time frame: End of 8-week treatment phase
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