Optimizing and Personalizing interventions for schizophrenia Across the Lifespan (OPAL)

New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene, Inc, New York NY

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

The OPAL Center is named after its goal of Optimizing and Personalizing interventions for people with schizophrenia Across the Lifespan. The target population for this ALACRITY Center is people diagnosed with schizophrenia, which typically affects individuals from adolescence or early adulthood until the end of life. Affected individuals commonly have impaired social and occupational functioning; experience persistent psychotic and mood symptoms; have cognitive problems that may progress; and are at risk for disability and premature death. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals are particularly at risk of poor outcomes. The goal of this renewal application is to extend our efforts to accelerate the development and implementation of effective, individualized treatments for schizophrenia in real clinical settings. The specific aims of the Center renewal application are as follows: 1. Strengthen our infrastructure that supports research that examines innovative ways to optimize treatments for people with schizophrenia throughout the lifespan and that accelerates the translation of clinical research on schizophrenia to routine practice settings. 2. Conduct projects that develop, adapt, and test innovative, accessible, and person-centered interventions that improve engagement in treatment and can be readily deployed. 3. Train scientists who will conduct translational research on interventions for schizophrenia. The OPAL Signature Project will use 16 years of data (2007-2022) from the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) to test hypotheses about risk factors for dementia among people diagnosed with schizophrenia and compare the effectiveness of treatment strategies after diagnosis of dementia. We will then integrate our findings to adapt a Cognitive Health Toolkit that provides assessment and management tools. Exploratory Project 1 tests a novel, person-centered approach to assessment and treatment initiation for BIPOC individuals with psychotic symptoms in community mental health clinics that incorporates an adapted version of the Cultural Formulation Interview to improve diagnosis and treatment engagement. Exploratory Project 2 will build on work done in Europe to adapt and test the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of Flexible Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), which will allow ACT teams to allocate resources according to the individual needs of participants, improving efficiency and outcomes. Exploratory Project 3 uses mobile health (mHealth) technology to deliver measurement-based care and improve the person-centered outcomes of individuals with schizophrenia across the lifespan. OPAL projects use the Center's common resources and methodologies to improve implementation and personalization of treatments for important problems. Stakeholders help us to refine and adapt interventions for effective implementation in real-world settings.