Testing a New Device to Advance the Use of Social Skills Training With Mental Health Consumers and Clinicians (SST)

Center for Social Innovation, Massachusetts

Status: Completed

Conditions: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Social Skills Coach

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03053557

Social Skills Coach

1R43MH113424-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to test a new device called the Social Skills Coach that is being created to help mental health consumers with social skills and community functioning. People diagnosed with schizophrenia and clinicians will be included as participants in this study. Mental health consumers (diagnosed with schizophrenia) will be randomly assigned to either test the new device or to participate in a social skills training course. Data will be collected from participants through surveys before participants either use the device or participate the course and afterwards. Individual interviews will be conducted with a sub sample of mental health consumers and clinicians. The study looks to test the credibility and acceptability of the new device to help mental health consumers and clinicians. it will also influence future research.

Full description

This phase I pilot study tests the feasibility, credibility, and acceptability of the prototype version of Social Skills Coach in terms of its use among mental health consumers and clinicians. The intervention aims to improve social and daily living skills and community functioning among people diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. A mixed methods approach will be taken to collect quantitative data at baseline and follow-up. Quantitative data collection includes the use of surveys that comprise validated instruments. Qualitative data collection will occur at the end of the study and will include the use of semi-structured interviews to capture experiential information. Study participants will be randomly assigned to either a social skills training course (control group) or to a study arm using the Social Skills Coach program (treatment group). The study aims to demonstrate proof of concept for a larger effectiveness trial.

Enrollment: 37 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 21+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Chart diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, ability to provide consent, and independent living in the community.
• We will obtain written informed consent, and the consent procedure will include an evaluation of capacity to provide consent

Exclusion criteria

• Under age 21 or not able to provide consent.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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37 participants in 2 patient groups

Social Skills Coach

Experimental group

Description:

The Social Skills Coach arm of the study will be provided access, instruction, and support for using the newly developed multi-platform device to address social impairments among individuals with schizophrenia, based on the evidence-based Social Skills Training (SST) intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social Skills Coach

Social Skills Training course

No Intervention group

Description:

Social Skills Training classes are widely available and regularly used in the study setting. As such, this group will serve as a treatment as usual control group.