Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
99 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2017-11-15
2024-10-01
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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In this study investigators aim to test the efficacy (see our outcomes above) of Honest, Open, Proud run by soldiers with lived experience of mental illness.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Honest, Open, Proud
The group program is about disclosure versus secrecy of one's mental illness. The groups are facilitated by two peers (soldiers with lived experience of mental illness). Each group runs for three weeks, one meeting per week, and two hours per meeting. There is one 2-hour booster session in week 6.
Fidelity to manual: rated by a research assistant who is present during the group session
Honest, Open, Proud (HOP)
Three lessons, one for each two-hour session plus one booster session
1. Considering the pros and cons of disclosure:
Discussion of one's idea of identity and mental illness, weighing the costs and benefits of (non-) disclosure
2. Different ways to disclose:
Discussion of different levels of (non-) disclosure, considering costs and benefits of each level, selecting persons to disclose to and how to test them out, anticipating responses of others to one's disclosure
3. Telling one's story:
Practice how to tell one's story, identifying peers who might be helpful with the coming out process
4. Booster session Reviewing previous intentions to disclose one's mental illness, discussion whether one disclosed and evaluating this experience
Control group
Treatment as usual (TAU)
No interventions assigned to this group
Interventions
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Honest, Open, Proud (HOP)
Three lessons, one for each two-hour session plus one booster session
1. Considering the pros and cons of disclosure:
Discussion of one's idea of identity and mental illness, weighing the costs and benefits of (non-) disclosure
2. Different ways to disclose:
Discussion of different levels of (non-) disclosure, considering costs and benefits of each level, selecting persons to disclose to and how to test them out, anticipating responses of others to one's disclosure
3. Telling one's story:
Practice how to tell one's story, identifying peers who might be helpful with the coming out process
4. Booster session Reviewing previous intentions to disclose one's mental illness, discussion whether one disclosed and evaluating this experience
Other Intervention Names
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Age 18 or above
* Ability to provide written informed consent
* Fluent in German (needed for self-report measures)
* At least a moderate level of self-reported disclosure-related distress/difficulty (score 4 or higher on the screening item 'In general, how distressed or worried are you in terms of secrecy or disclosure of your mental illness to others?', rated from 1, not at all, to 7, very much)
* Current inpatient, day-clinic or outpatient treatment at the Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany
* from April 2018 onwards we decided to also include non-military first responders (fire fighters or police officers) who are treated in the Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany
Exclusion Criteria
* Intellectual disability
* Organic disorders
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany
UNKNOWN
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA
UNKNOWN
University of Ulm
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Nicolas Rüsch
Professor
Principal Investigators
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Nicolas Rüsch, Dr.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Department of Psychiatry II, Section Public Mental Health, Ulm University, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg
Gerd-Dieter Willmund, Dr.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany
Peter Zimmermann, Dr.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Center for Military Mental Health, Berlin, Germany
Locations
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Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Center for Military Mental Health
Berlin, , Germany
Department of Psychiatry II, Section Pubic Mental Health, Ulm University, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg
Ulm, , Germany
Countries
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References
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Rogers ES, Chamberlin J, Ellison ML, Crean T. A consumer-constructed scale to measure empowerment among users of mental health services. Psychiatr Serv. 1997 Aug;48(8):1042-7. doi: 10.1176/ps.48.8.1042.
Boyd JE, Otilingam PG, Deforge BR. Brief version of the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale: psychometric properties and relationship to depression, self esteem, recovery orientation, empowerment, and perceived devaluation and discrimination. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2014 Mar;37(1):17-23. doi: 10.1037/prj0000035.
Corrigan PW, Michaels PJ, Vega E, Gause M, Watson AC, Rusch N. Self-stigma of mental illness scale--short form: reliability and validity. Psychiatry Res. 2012 Aug 30;199(1):65-9. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2012.04.009. Epub 2012 May 10.
Rusch N, Abbruzzese E, Hagedorn E, Hartenhauer D, Kaufmann I, Curschellas J, Ventling S, Zuaboni G, Bridler R, Olschewski M, Kawohl W, Rossler W, Kleim B, Corrigan PW. Efficacy of Coming Out Proud to reduce stigma's impact among people with mental illness: pilot randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2014;204(5):391-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.113.135772. Epub 2014 Jan 16.
Link BG, Mirotznik J, Cullen FT. The effectiveness of stigma coping orientations: can negative consequences of mental illness labeling be avoided? J Health Soc Behav. 1991 Sep;32(3):302-20.
Rusch N, Corrigan PW, Heekeren K, Theodoridou A, Dvorsky D, Metzler S, Muller M, Walitza S, Rossler W. Well-being among persons at risk of psychosis: the role of self-labeling, shame, and stigma stress. Psychiatr Serv. 2014 Apr 1;65(4):483-9. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201300169.
Rusch N, Heekeren K, Theodoridou A, Dvorsky D, Muller M, Paust T, Corrigan PW, Walitza S, Rossler W. Attitudes towards help-seeking and stigma among young people at risk for psychosis. Psychiatry Res. 2013 Dec 30;210(3):1313-5. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2013.08.028. Epub 2013 Sep 4.
Rusch N, Evans-Lacko SE, Henderson C, Flach C, Thornicroft G. Knowledge and attitudes as predictors of intentions to seek help for and disclose a mental illness. Psychiatr Serv. 2011 Jun;62(6):675-8. doi: 10.1176/ps.62.6.pss6206_0675.
Development of the World Health Organization WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment. The WHOQOL Group. Psychol Med. 1998 May;28(3):551-8. doi: 10.1017/s0033291798006667.
Rusch N, Corrigan PW, Powell K, Rajah A, Olschewski M, Wilkniss S, Batia K. A stress-coping model of mental illness stigma: II. Emotional stress responses, coping behavior and outcome. Schizophr Res. 2009 May;110(1-3):65-71. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.01.005. Epub 2009 Feb 23.
Rusch N, Corrigan PW, Wassel A, Michaels P, Olschewski M, Wilkniss S, Batia K. A stress-coping model of mental illness stigma: I. Predictors of cognitive stress appraisal. Schizophr Res. 2009 May;110(1-3):59-64. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2009.01.006. Epub 2009 Mar 6.
Ryff, C. D. (1989): Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (57): 1069-1081.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB. The PHQ-9: validity of a brief depression severity measure. J Gen Intern Med. 2001 Sep;16(9):606-13. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016009606.x.
Rusch N, Helms C, Horger J, Hohle B, Bernert H, Muschner P, Rose C, Corrigan PW, Mulfinger N, Zimmermann P, Willmund GD. The peer-led Honest, Open, Proud program to decrease the impact of mental illness stigma among German military personnel: randomized controlled trial. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2025 Jul 22. doi: 10.1007/s00127-025-02960-x. Online ahead of print.
Other Identifiers
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HOP Soldiers
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id