Text 2 Connect- Texting Intervention for Mental Health Treatment Utilization (T2C)

University of Pittsburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Suicidal Ideation; Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: Text2Connect; Behavioral: Psychoeducational Videos (PE) Only

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT04560075

STUDY20060206

P50MH115838-02 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Text2Connect (T2C) proposes to test a text-based intervention designed to improve engagement with mental health treatment.

Full description

To enhance outcomes for transition-age youth with mental health disorders during the vulnerable period that occurs during their first several months of college, the investigators propose an automated TM intervention, "Text to Connect" (T2C), that aims to increase mental health self-efficacy through psychoeducation, self-monitoring of symptoms and stressors, and cues to action for college-bound youth.

Assignment of Interventions:

The study will utilize block randomization whereby 2/3 of participants will be randomly assigned to receive T2C, and 1/3 to receive PE. Blocks will balance the groups on site (CCP versus STAR/CABS). A 2:1 randomization scheme will randomize 50 youth to either receive T2C (n=30) or a link to brief psychoeducational videos about mental health (PE; n=20). All participants will then complete a brief battery of self-report assessments online at baseline and again monthly through month 4. Youth randomized to receive PE will receive a text message with the link to the webpage with the psychoeducational videos. Youth randomized to receive T2C will be onboarded and initiate the TM intervention that sends automated prompts at minimum monthly through month 4.

Hypothesis:

Aim 1. To examine the feasibility of T2C for transition-age youth with psychiatric disorders (n=3 clinics, 50 adolescents). Youth randomized to receive T2C will:

Hypothesis 1a. engage with T2C at high rates (>70% response rate to SMS prompts).

Hypothesis 1b. report high levels of satisfaction (>70% satisfaction) and usability with T2C.

Aim 2. To examine the impact of T2C versus PE on mental health self-efficacy, symptoms and functioning, and treatment engagement. Over 4 months, youth who receive T2C, as compared with youth who receive PE, will report:

Hypothesis 2a (Primary). Greater mental health self-efficacy Hypothesis 2b (Secondary). Lower symptom severity and greater psychosocial functioning Hypothesis 2c (Secondary). Higher rates of follow-through with mental health services

Enrollment: 52 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Participant engaged in treatment at CC Waterdam, STAR or CABS clinic
• Participants have a current psychiatric diagnosis documented in their electronic medical record and/or be in receipt of mental health services within 3 months per self-/ parent- or clinician- report
• At least 18 years of age
• Recently graduated high school
• Planning to attend college or higher education program within 6 weeks
• Own a text-capable phone
• Be willing and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Participants will be excluded if they have conditions that might impair their ability to effectively engage in Text2Connect
• Under the age of 18yo
• Non-English speakers

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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52 participants in 2 patient groups

Text2Connect

Experimental group

Description:

Participants receiving Text2Connect (T2C) personalized messages will receive a monthly check-in text prompt. Based on their response, the participants then receive either general psychoeducational videos and prompts to continue to monitor mental health or are then prompted to endorse stressors and symptoms they are experiencing to prompt awareness of treatment targets in daily life.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Text2Connect

Psychoeducational Videos (PE) Only

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive a web link to a library of 4 PE videos. These brief 2-minute videos include general information about self-care during college.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Psychoeducational Videos (PE) Only