Enhancing Outcomes, Reducing Costs: Evaluating Peer Support for Mood Disorders

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study to evaluate peer-led mutual help organizations (MHOs) that target individuals with psychiatric diagnoses such as mood disorders, and provide evidence either supporting the expansion of such groups and the development and testing of clinical procedures, or point toward reevaluation and development of alternative low-cost, community based approaches to promoting recovery among individuals suffering from these disorders.

Detailed Description
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Participants will include up to 200 participants from The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) for Aim 1. Aim 1 will measure characteristics of current DBSA members through cross-sectional surveys of demographics, clinical use history, and involvement in DBSA. 60 new DBSA members who began attending in the past month will be enrolled for Aim 2. Aim 3 will consist of 100 matched controls of people who have never attended a DBSA meeting. Assessments will be completed at McLean Hospital, in which a study staff member will thoroughly explain the study to participants. If participants are eligible for Aim 2, study staff will receive written consent from the participant.

Official Title
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Enhancing Outcomes, Reducing Costs: Evaluating Peer Support for Mood Disorders

Conditions
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Depression, Bipolar Disorders, Mood Disorders

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Aim 1: 18 years of age or older Self-report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder Attend DBSA meetings Aim 2: 18 years of age or older Self-report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder Have attended their first meeting in the past month Aim 3: 18 years of age or older Self-report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder Have never attended a DBSA meeting Exclusion Criteria: Aim 1: Do not report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder Have not attended a DBSA meeting Aim 2: Do not report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder Have not attended a DBSA meeting Have attended their first meeting prior to a month before their assessment Aim 3: Do not report a diagnosis of any type of mood disorder Have attended a DBSA meeting

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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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| AIM 1<br>200 current DBSA participants. | |
| AIM 2<br>60 new DBSA attendees with mood disorders who have attended their first meeting in the past month. | |
| AIM 3<br>100 matched control group individuals with mood disorders with no current or prior exposure to DBSA. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Systematically gather empirical estimates of the characteristics of current DBSA participants through a cross-sectional survey of demographics, clinical service, and past and current DBSA attendance, involvement, and subjective benefits. | The goal is to describe and characterize DBSA participants and obtain information on subjective benefits. | Up to 24 months | 
| Provide estimates of rates of attendance, retention in, and discontinuation from DBSA for new DBSA members with mood disorders. | Determine which DBSA participants are more likely to attend more frequently/become more engaged. | Up to 24 months | 
| Conduct a prospective between-group investigation comparing new DBSA members to a matched control group with no prior exposure to DBSA in order to test for beneficial affects of DBSA over a 6-month follow up. | Compare new DBSA members to a matched control group in order to test for any potential incremental beneficial effects from DBSA participation. | Up to 24 months |