Mobile Enhancement of Motivation in Schizophrenia

Indiana University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Psychosis; Schizophrenia; Schizo Affective Disorder

Treatments: Behavioral: Control; Behavioral: Mobile Enhancement of Motivation (MEMS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03059771

1701070796

Details and patient eligibility

About

Motivation deficits are a strong determinant of poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Mobile interventions are a promising approach to improving these deficits, as they can provide frequent cues and reinforcements that support goal-directed behavior. The primary aims of this study are to conduct a pilot study using a randomized design to 1) Test the feasibility and acceptability of a personalized mobile text message intervention, Mobile Enhancement of Motivation in Schizophrenia (MEMS) and to 2) Test the preliminary effectiveness of MEMS compared to a control condition.

Full description

Objectives: Motivation deficits are one of the strongest determinants of poor functional outcomes in people with schizophrenia. Mobile interventions are a promising approach to improving these deficits, as they can provide frequent cues and reinforcements that support goal-directed behavior. The objective of this study is to conduct a pilot study using a randomized design to 1) Test the feasibility and acceptability of a personalized mobile text message intervention, Mobile Enhancement of Motivation in Schizophrenia (MEMS) and to 2) Test the preliminary effectiveness of MEMS compared to a control condition. Methods: Up to forty outpatients with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder will be recruited. All participants will set individualized recovery goals to complete over an eight-week period; those randomized to receive MEMS will also receive three sets of personalized, interactive text messages each weekday to reinforce and cue goal completion. Before and after the eight-week period, participants in both groups will complete validated measures of motivation. Both groups will also report their goal attainment after eight weeks. Results: It is anticipated that those in the MEMS group will demonstrate greater goal attainment and improvements in motivation compared to the control group. Discussion: This project will test the initial feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a novel intervention for improving one of the most debilitating aspects of schizophrenia.

Enrollment: 59 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Schizophrenia-spectrum diagnosis
• Have a text-message enabled cell-phone
• Are a current client at a participating community mental health center
• Are in a non-acute phase of illness or have no medication changes or hospitalizations in the prior 30 days
• Demonstrate a minimum of moderate motivation impairments according to the Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS; Kring et al., 2013)
• Have an English reading level at or above the fourth grade according to the Graded Word List (Pray & Ross, 1969)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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59 participants in 2 patient groups

Mobile Enhancement of Motivation (MEMS)

Experimental group

Description:

Facilitators will first collaboratively help participants set personal recovery-goals using Collaborative Goal Technology (Clarke et al., 2006). Participants will then receive three sets of interactive text messages each weekday for eight weeks to reinforce and cue goal completion.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Mobile Enhancement of Motivation (MEMS)

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will only engage in a goal-setting session where facilitators will collaboratively help participants set personal recovery-goals using Collaborative Goal Technology (Clarke et al., 2006).

Treatment:

Behavioral: Control