Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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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.

Detailed Description
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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.

Official Title
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Randomized Trial of a Peer-led Intervention to Promote Community Living and Participation - The Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice

Conditions
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Mental Illness, Social Isolation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice (BCGP)


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: are 18 or older. are recipients of services at research sites due to having a DSM-V diagnosis of mental illness, including dual diagnosis (dual diagnosis refers to co-occurring mental illness and alcohol/ substance use disorder). are interested in enhancing their community participation. are not currently receiving individual peer support services. are able to read and write in English. Exclusion Criteria: 1)Inability to give full and knowing consent.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice (BCGP)<br>The BCGP program is a 6-month photovoice-based intervention to help individuals with psychiatric disabilities enhance their community participation. | Behavioral: Bridging Community Gaps Photovoice (BCGP)<br>* 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.<br>|
| No Intervention: Services as Usual<br>Individuals in this group continue with their regular mental health services with no additional intervention. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | 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. | Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 . | 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 | Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months to 9 months to 12 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Mental Illness, Community Participation, Stigma, Photovoice