Online Family Support and Education for Schizophrenia

NCT ID: NCT00046085

Last Updated: 2016-09-09

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 42 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2001-03-31
• Study Completion Date: 2006-11-30

Brief Summary

This study evaluated the benefits of providing relatives of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia the opportunity to interact with each other using the Internet. It was hypothesized that patients whose relatives had access to the internet intervention would have reduced symptoms and greater community tenure, compared to their counterparts who did not have relative access to the internet education and support program. We also collected information on how frequently the relatives used the website and how well they liked its features.

Detailed Description

Although psychoeducational programs for schizophrenia can reduce patient relapse rates and reduce family distress, participation rates are often low. This study evaluated an online model to provide the families of schizophrenia patients with knowledge of illness management to reduce family burden and increase perceived social support.

Relatives of patients with schizophrenia who received 12 months of customary care with access to the educational website for the first year were compared to matched group of relatives of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who were receiving customary care and who consented to participate in a family education program. In the education condition, relatives were provided with private, secure access to the website, which features family-to-family chat capabilities, video lectures on the management of schizophrenia, written materials on important issues in schizophrenia management, professionally facilitated online discussions of the material, and additional resource links.

Relatives were assessed using 90-minute interviews at the beginning of the project and every 6 months for 12 months. The interviews were used to assess the family member's perception of the patient's symptoms, his or her knowledge of the illness, the illness's impact on the family member, and his or her perception of the website intervention.

Patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were also asked to complete interviews and assessments at the beginning of the project and every 6 months for 12 months. The assessments include questions about symptoms, medication compliance and side effects, hospitalizations, and social functioning.

The major hypotheses were that relative participation in the online program would be associated with lower symptoms rates and hospitalizations in the patients.

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Patient customary care

12 months of patient customary care

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Customary care

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants received care as usual.

Online family education

12 months of patient customary care and relative access to online education and support program

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Online Family Education

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Families were provided with private, secure access to the website, which features family-to-family chat capabilities, video lectures on the management of schizophrenia, written materials on important issues in schizophrenia management, professionally facilitated online discussions of the material, and additional resource links.

Customary care

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants received care as usual.

Interventions

Online Family Education

Families were provided with private, secure access to the website, which features family-to-family chat capabilities, video lectures on the management of schizophrenia, written materials on important issues in schizophrenia management, professionally facilitated online discussions of the material, and additional resource links.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Customary care

Participants received care as usual.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) research diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
• Stable antipsychotic medication regimen for at least 1 month
• Willing to participate in in-person assessments

• At least 4 hours of weekly contact with patient
• Willing to participate in in-person assessments
• -Interested in a family education program for schizophrenia

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of California, Los Angeles

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Shirley M Glynn, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of California, Los Angeles

Locations

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

Los Angeles, California, United States

Countries

United States

References

Glynn SM, Randolph ET, Garrick T, Lui A. A proof of concept trial of an online psychoeducational program for relatives of both veterans and civilians living with schizophrenia. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2010 Spring;33(4):278-87. doi: 10.2975/33.4.2010.278.287.

Reference Type: RESULT

PMID: 20374986 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

R21MH062135

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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DSIR AT-SP

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

R21MH062135

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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