Bolster: Caregiver App to Reduce Duration of Untreated Psychosis

NCT ID: NCT04949542

Last Updated: 2025-11-12

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

60 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-08-11

Study Completion Date

2024-10-04

Brief Summary

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The proposed research project aims to develop and test a mobile health intervention designed to improve caregivers' illness knowledge and caregiving skills through interactive cognitive-behavioral modules, and through these improvements, reduce distress, improve coping, improve family communication, increase caregiver treatment facilitation and reduce duration of untreated psychosis. This clinical trial will involve a remote pilot randomized controlled trial comparing this new intervention to existing online caregiving support resources. Analyses will determine whether this approach is acceptable and feasible, as well as explore its effectiveness and impact on key components of the cognitive model of caregiving.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Caregiver to a Young Adult With Early Psychosis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Control

Participants in the control condition will be provided support resources from mental health advocacy organizations representing currently available resources for caregivers (including a selection from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America). They will also have access to the research team by phone for technical troubleshooting and support as necessary.

Group Type OTHER

Control

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exemplar resources provided in the control arm will include a selection from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America designed to support caregivers helping loved ones access care.

Bolster

Participants in the experimental arm will be provided access to the Bolster smartphone application designed to support caregivers of young adults with early psychosis as well as the support resources offered in the control condition. They will also have access to the research team by phone for technical troubleshooting and support as necessary.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Bolster

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Bolster is a native mobile app that provides on-demand content to caregivers of young adults with early psychosis to support their caregiving skills and knowledge of psychosis.

Interventions

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Bolster

Bolster is a native mobile app that provides on-demand content to caregivers of young adults with early psychosis to support their caregiving skills and knowledge of psychosis.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Control

Exemplar resources provided in the control arm will include a selection from the National Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health America designed to support caregivers helping loved ones access care.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 18 years old or older
* Live in the United States
* Caregiver to a young adult with early psychosis, wherein early psychosis is defined as: (1) Being between the ages of 15 and 35, and (2) Within the past five years, the young adult first experienced: (2A) Presence of psychotic symptoms represented by one or more of hallucinations, delusions, marked thought disorder, psychomotor disorder or bizarre behavior, as well as (2B) Definite change of personality or behavior manifesting as two or more of the following: serious deterioration of function, marked social withdrawal, persistent self-neglect, episodic marked anxiety.
* A positive screen according to the Caregiver Prime Screen - Revised (endorsed two or more responses of five or six ("somewhat"/"definitely" agree))
* Own an Apple iPhone
* Self-identify as a caregiver of the affected person
* The affected person is not enrolled in specialty mental health services (i.e. a program wherein the affected person can access psychiatry and counseling/therapy services), and has not been enrolled in such services for at least three months prior to screening. If an affected person is receiving one of these services, the caregiver reports that this is an inadequate level of care.

Exclusion Criteria

* Incarceration or long-term care setting for either the caregiver or identified affected young adult.
* Participant failed to demonstrate understanding of study details in comprehension screening process.
* The affected person is unengaged in services, but only as a result of having completed or "graduated" from a specialty treatment program for psychosis.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Washington

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Benjamin Buck

Assistant Professor: School of Medicine: Psychiatry

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Benjamin Buck, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Washington

Locations

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Behavioral Research in Technology and Engineering Center, Health Sciences, UW Medical Center

Seattle, Washington, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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STUDY00013334

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id