Mindfulness-Based Therapy for Serious Mental Illness (MBT)

Butler Hospital

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Major Depressive Disorder; Schizophrenia; Bipolar Disorder; Serious Mental Illness

Treatments: Behavioral: Mindfulness-based therapy; Behavioral: Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06880796

2412-001

R01MH136540 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Serious mental illness (SMI), encompassing schizophrenia-spectrum and major mood disorders, has been estimated to affect approximately 5.4% of the U.S. adult population each year. Research shows low rates of evidence-based treatment being provided to patients with SMI. This is unfortunate, because evidence-based psychological therapies have been shown to be effective for improving outcomes in SMI. One such efficacious psychological intervention is mindfulness-based therapy (MBT), which integrates mindfulness practice with cognitive-behavioral strategies to improve illness management. Previous trials conducted in the United Kingdom have shown that MBT improves symptoms and functioning in community-based outpatients with SMI, including in routine practice settings. In the U.S., most patients with SMI receive treatment at local community mental health centers (CMHCs). However, patients in CMHCs often cannot access evidence-based therapies like MBT due to the lack of trained staff able to provide these interventions. Further, previous studies of MBT have been conducted exclusively outside the U.S. It is essential to confirm that MBT is effective when delivered for patients with SMI in the U.S., and how it can be sustainably implemented in CMHCs where this clinical population is commonly treated. Thus, the investigators propose to test the effectiveness of MBT for SMI and study its implementation in a typical CMHC setting. The investigators will randomize 160 patients with SMI (psychotic-spectrum and major mood disorders) to receive treatment as usual (TAU) vs TAU plus MBT delivered by frontline clinicians in a large, diverse CMHC. The investigators will conduct blinded assessments at baseline and at 6- (mid), 12- (post), and 24-weeks (follow-up). Consistent with an experimental therapeutics approach, the investigators will examine potential mechanisms of action (e.g., mindfulness skills), as well as collect implementation-focused quantitative and qualitative data from our community partners (patients, administrators, clinicians). If found to be effective and aided by a certified training program and the implementation data collected, MBT could be adopted as a future evidence-based practice and integrated into the routine community care of patients with SMI, thereby reducing health disparities.

Enrollment: 160 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Currently receiving treatment in a community mental health center
• Diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder or major mood disorder based on clinical interview
• Age 18 years or older
• Ability to speak and read English

Exclusion criteria

• Not clinically stable enough to participate in treatment.
• Established weekly mindfulness practice

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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160 participants in 2 patient groups

Mindfulness-based therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Mindfulness-based therapy is a type of psychotherapy that will be provided in a group format for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mindfulness-based therapy

Treatment as Usual

Active Comparator group

Description:

Treatment as usually provided including pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and case management as indicated.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Treatment as Usual (TAU)