Medical Self-Management for Improving Health Behavior Among Individuals in Community Mental Health Settings

Emory University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Chronic Disease; Mental Illness

Treatments: Behavioral: Peer-Led Health Education Class

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT00380536

IRB00047631

R34MH078583 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

DAHBR 96-BHB

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a medical illness self-management program in improving the health and health behavior of people who are receiving care at a community mental health center.

Full description

People with serious mental disorders tend to have shorter life expectancies and elevated rates of unhealthy behaviors and chronic illnesses. Peer-led medical illness self-management programs have been shown to be effective in improving the health and health behaviors of people with chronic medical conditions. This type of intervention, however, has yet to be systematically tested in individuals with mental disorders. Community mental health centers provide care to many people of low socioeconomic status who lack medical insurance. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of a medical illness self-management program in improving the health and health behaviors of people who are receiving care at a community mental health center.

Participants in this study will be randomly assigned to either partake in peer-led medical illness self-management group sessions or receive care as usual. Participants assigned to care as usual will continue to receive any services they would have otherwise been offered, but will not receive any additional services through the study. Participants assigned to the medical illness self-management program will attend group sessions once a week for 6 weeks. Sessions will focus on medical self-management, healthy behaviors, and effective use of the general medical system.

Enrollment: 111 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Currently receiving treatment at Dekalb Community Service Board
• Chronic disease

Exclusion criteria

• History of more than two psychiatric or medical hospitalizations within the year prior to study entry

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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111 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will participate in peer-led medical illness self-management group sessions.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Peer-Led Health Education Class

2

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants will receive treatment as usual.