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Using Short Message Service as a Means of Clinical Engagement in Early Psychosis

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Psychotic Disorders
Interventions
Behavioral: SMS text messaging - interactive check-in
Behavioral: SMS text messaging - inactive control
Registration Number
NCT04379349
Lead Sponsor
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Brief Summary

Engagement with clinical services for youth with early psychosis represents a significant challenge, with up to 40% of patients dropping out of treatment in the first year. This has been linked to worse illness outcomes and represents a significant barrier to recovery for these patients. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of short message service (SMS) as a means of improving clinical engagement in early-episode psychosis populations by bridging contact between appointments with weekly check-ins/reminders. These weekly check-ins during the first year of treatment will serve as an additional opportunity to reach out to patients and give them a chance to do the same with their care teams, with patient responses triggering clinician follow-up if necessary.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
61
Inclusion Criteria
  • between the ages of 16-29
  • a diagnosis of an affective or non-affective psychotic disorder (i.e., Bipolar or Major Depressive Disorders with Psychotic Features, Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders, Other Specified Psychotic Disorders, Substance Induced Psychosis and Attenuated Psychotic Syndrome)
  • eligible for follow-up within the Slaight Family Centre for Youth in Transition early intervention service
  • within the first 6 months of treatment
Exclusion Criteria
  • involved in another intervention study
  • do not have a personal cell phone number

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Active SMSSMS text messaging - interactive check-inWeekly interactive SMS text messaging check-ins.
Sham SMSSMS text messaging - inactive controlWeekly minimally interactive SMS text messages.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Appointment Attendance9 months

Percentage of attended clinic appointments

Service Engagement Scale (SES)9 months

Clinician-rated treatment engagement and adherence (minimum score = 0, maximum score = 42, higher score indicates worse service engagement)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Social Functioning Scale (SFS)9 months

Self-report measure of social functioning (minimum score = 0, maximum score = 247, higher score indicates better functioning)

Clinical Global Impression (CGI)9 months

Interview-based global rating of illness severity (minimum score = 1, maximum score = 7, higher score indicates worse illness severity)

Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP)9 months

Interview-rated measure of global functioning (minimum score = 1, maximum score = 100, higher score indicates better functioning)

Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LESQ-18)9 months

Self-reported measure of subjective quality of life (minimum score = 1, maximum score = 5, higher score indicates better quality of life)

Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS)9 months

Interview-based measure of the severity of negative symptoms (minimum score = 0, maximum score = 110, higher score indicates higher severity of symptoms)

Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)9 months

Interview-based measure of the severity of psychiatric symptoms (minimum score = 24, maximum score = 168, higher score indicates higher severity of symptoms)

Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES)9 months

Interview-rated measure of the severity of motivation deficits (minimum score = 18, maximum score = 72, higher score indicates worse motivation deficits)

Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool for Schizophrenia (B-CATS)9 months

Rater-administered measure of cognitive functioning (scores indicate standardized Z-scores with no pre-defined minimum or maximum score, higher score indicates better cognitive functioning)

Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-10)9 months

Self-reported measure of medication adherence (minimum score = -10, maximum score = + 10, higher score indicates better adherence)

Scale To Assess Therapeutic Relationships - Patient Version (STAR-P)9 months

Self-reported measure of the clinician-patient therapeutic relationship (minimum score = 0, maximum score = 48, higher score indicates better therapeutic relationship)

Hospitalizations9 months

Number of hospitalizations

Emergency Department Visits9 months

Number of emergency department visits

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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