"Recovery 4 US" - A Photovoice-based Social Media Program (R4US)

Boston University Charles River Campus

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mental Illness; Loneliness; Social Isolation

Treatments: Behavioral: Recovery 4 Us

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03266614

4458

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is a randomized trial evaluating "Recovery 4 US", a social media program aimed at the enhancement of community participation and overall recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabilities.This innovative e-mental health program integrates Internet and mobile technologies and is designed to be a self-sustaining recovery-oriented virtual community for individuals living with a disabling mental illness based on the principles of Photovoice.

Full description

This study is a randomized trial evaluating "Recovery 4 US", a social media program aimed at the enhancement of community participation and overall recovery of individuals with psychiatric disabilities.This innovative e-mental health program integrates Internet and mobile technologies and is designed to be a self-sustaining recovery-oriented virtual community for individuals living with a disabling mental illness based on the principles of Photovoice.

The "Recovery 4 US" program which includes a mobile phone application and a password protected website, has three main components: 1) receipt of daily hope-inspiring message, paired with a corresponding visual image; 2) creation and viewing of recovery-oriented Photovoice works; and 3) opportunity to attend community events initiated by members of the "Recovery 4 US" community.

The benefits of the "Recovery 4 US" program will be evaluated through a randomized trial with n=60 participants. The study will take place at the Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation. Participants will be randomized to the experimental group (provided with a smartphone and access to "Recovery 4 US" application and website) or the control group (provided with a smartphone but without access to the "Recovery 4 US" app or website). We anticipate participation in the program will be associated with reduced loneliness, increased hopefulness, community participation, and overall recovery.

The recruitment goal for this study was amended to n=70.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• are 18 or older
• have been recipients of services at the BU CPR Recovery Center due to having a DSM-V diagnosis of mental illness, including dual diagnosis (dual diagnosis refers to co-occurring mental illness and alcohol/ substance use disorder) as indicated in their records
• are interested in participating in a social media program
• are fluent in English
• have a basic ability to use a mobile phone

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to give full and knowing consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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68 participants in 2 patient groups

Recovery 4 US

Experimental group

Description:

This group receives a smartphone with the Recovery 4 US application and access to the application website.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Recovery 4 Us

Services as usual

No Intervention group

Description:

This group receives a smartphone but no access to the Recovery 4 US application.