Contingency Management for Problematic Behavior Reduction in the Community

Overview

This study aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a contingency management program in a small group of mentally ill, unhoused individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and anosognosia (a lack of insight into their mental health) in the City of Tulsa. The primary objective of the study is to decrease disruptive or problematic behaviors (e.g. interactions with police, emergency services, hospitals, shelter staff, 911 calls) by unhoused individuals in the community through monetary incentives. Up to 15 participants will meet weekly for 30 minutes with their case manager to discuss progress on life goals ($10) and for having seven days with no disruptive behaviors (or "trouble-free days") per week at each visit, they will receive an additional baseline payment of $20, increasing with continued success in subsequent weeks by $1 per week.

This study aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a contingency management program in a small group of mentally ill, unhoused individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and anosognosia (a lack of insight into their mental health) in the City of Tulsa. Tulsa's unhoused population grew nearly 7% last year to the highest numbers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic according to Housing Solutions data, an organization that oversees many of the city's efforts to address homelessness. The primary objective of the study is to decrease disruptive or problematic behaviors by unhoused individuals in the community through monetary incentives.

Conditions