Reproductive Life Planning for Women With Mental Illness
Condition: Psychotic Disorders; Mood Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
MeSH terms: Mental Disorders; Psychotic Disorders; Mood Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Women represent the fastest growing population within the VHA. Many are of reproductive age
      and experience mental health concerns. Women with mental illness are at greater risk for
      unplanned pregnancy and poor pregnancy outcomes due to factors related to mental health and
      mental health treatment. Similarly, mental health concerns (e.g., impact of pregnancy on
      mental illness, psychiatric medications and pregnancy) can affect reproductive life goals and
      plans. Reproductive life planning (RLP) interventions that include considerations and
      concerns women Veterans with mental illness face are needed. The investigators adapted
      existing RLP materials to create an interactive, individualized, client-centered RLP
      intervention designed to help women Veterans with mental illness develop a mental
      health-informed reproductive life plan and reproductive life goals (RLP-MH). The current
      study aims to determine if the RLP-MH intervention is feasible and acceptable to women
      Veterans and if it increases engagement in behaviors to address RLP goals.
    

Detailed description: 
      Many women Veterans are of reproductive age and, of those, a substantial number experience
      mental health concerns. Women Veterans with mental illness are at greater risk for unplanned
      pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes due to factors unique to mental illness and mental
      health treatment. In addition, mental health and mental health-related concerns associated
      with pregnancy (e.g. impact of pregnancy on mental health, psychiatric medication use during
      pregnancy) often affect reproductive life decisions and health outcomes. For these reasons,
      reproductive life planning (RLP), setting personal goals and plans regarding reproductive
      intentions, that incorporates considerations and addresses concerns specific to mental health
      conditions is particularly important for women with mental illness. Despite this need, women
      Veterans with mental illness rarely receive RLP, and current tools do not adequately consider
      or address the unique reproductive health considerations women with mental illness often
      experience.

      The investigators adapted existing RLP materials to create an interactive, client-centered
      RLP intervention specifically designed to address mental health considerations that can
      influence RLP decisions and outcomes in women Veterans with mental illness. Women Veterans
      work with a facilitator to explore pregnancy intentions and RLP goals; consider important
      factors that impact those goals (e.g. medical, mental health or psychosocial concerns); and
      identify steps to address their RLP goals. As such, the RLP-MH intervention may empower women
      Veterans with mental illness to take an active role in their reproductive health and engage
      in behaviors that may improve reproductive outcomes. The goal of the proposed study is to
      pilot-test the RLP-MH intervention in women Veterans with mental illness to evaluate its
      feasibility and acceptability, and to explore its potential efficacy compared to provision of
      written materials on RLP (control condition).
    

Intervention name(s): Reproductive Life Planning-Mental Health (RLP-MH) Intervention; Written Materials on Reproductive Life Planning
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Other
Intervention description(s): RLP-MH intervention is comprised of two parts: 1) an in-person interactive session in which the participant works with an RLP-MH facilitator to explore pregnancy intentions and RLP goals, consider important factors that impact those goals (e.g. mental health and physical health conditions, psychosocial and lifestyle factors, values, preferences), and identify personal action steps to address RLP goals and 2) a 15-20 minute follow-up session in person or by phone one month later to discuss progress in addressing RLP goals.; Participants will receive written materials on reproductive life planning, contraception, and VA resources. Participants will be given the materials and study staff will briefly discuss the content with the participant.
Other intervention name(s): RLP-MH
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment