Clinical trial NCT03266614: "Recovery 4 US" - A Photovoice-based Social Media Program
Official title: "Recovery 4 US" - A Photovoice-based Social Media Program to Enhance the Recovery and Community Participation of Individuals With Psychiatric Disabilities
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Mental Illness
Social Isolation
Loneliness
Keywords: Mental Illness
Loneliness
Hope
Community
Social Media
Lead sponsor: Boston University Charles River Campus
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2017-08-30
Enrollment: 68
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: This study is a randomized trial evaluating "Recovery 4 US", a social media program aimed at the enhancement of community participation and overall recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabilities.This innovative e-mental health program integrates Internet and mobile technologies and is designed to be a self-sustaining recovery-oriented virtual community for individuals living with a disabling mental illness based on the principles of Photovoice.

Detailed description: This study is a randomized trial evaluating "Recovery 4 US", a social media program aimed at the enhancement of community participation and overall recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabilities.This innovative e-mental health program integrates Internet and mobile technologies and is designed to be a self-sustaining recovery-oriented virtual community for individuals living with a disabling mental illness based on the principles of Photovoice.

The "Recovery 4 US" program which includes a mobile phone application and a password protected website, has three main components: 1) receipt of daily hope-inspiring message, paired with a corresponding visual image; 2) creation and viewing of recovery-oriented Photovoice works; and 3) opportunity to attend community events initiated by members of the "Recovery 4 US" community.

The benefits of the "Recovery 4 US" program will be evaluated through a randomized trial with n=60 participants. The study will take place at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Participants will be randomized to the experimental group (provided with a smartphone and access to "Recovery 4 US" application and website) or the control group (provided with a smartphone but without access to the "Recovery 4 US" app or website). We anticipate participation in the program will be associated with reduced loneliness, increased hopefulness, community participation, and overall recovery.

The recruitment goal for this study was amended to n=70.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* are 18 or older
* have been recipients of services at the BU CPR Recovery Center 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) as indicated in their records
* are interested in participating in a social media program
* are fluent in English
* have a basic ability to use a mobile phone

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to give full and knowing consent

Primary outcomes:
measure: UCLA Loneliness Scale
timeFrame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Herth Hope Index
timeFrame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months
measure: Perceived Stress Scale
timeFrame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months
measure: Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Community Participation
timeFrame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months
measure: Recovery Assessment Scale
timeFrame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months
measure: BASIS-R
timeFrame: Change from Baseline to 3 months to 6 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Boston
country: United States
facility: Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
state: Massachusetts
Study officials:
affiliation: Boston University
name: Zlatka Russinova, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: