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

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Bipolar Disorders; Depression; Mood Disorders

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT02242669

2014P000153

R21MH101271-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full description

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.

Enrollment: 371 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

371 participants in 3 patient groups

AIM 1

Description:

200 current DBSA participants.

AIM 2

Description:

60 new DBSA attendees with mood disorders who have attended their first meeting in the past month.

AIM 3

Description:

100 matched control group individuals with mood disorders with no current or prior exposure to DBSA.