Schizophrenia Patient and Family Continuity of Care

University Of Pittsburgh At Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goal of this proposal is to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of using the World Wide Web (Web) to provide patients suffering from schizophrenia, and their families, a comprehensive psychoeducational program, which includes education, social support, information, concrete coping strategies, and guidance from mental health, social services, and medical professionals. This intervention is aimed at reducing relapse, facilitating patient rehabilitation, decreasing family distress and improving family well being. Following an in-person Psychoeducational Survival Skills Workshop, participants will be provided with six Web based modules: 1) a combined patient and family, multi-family support group, facilitated by a mental health professional; 2) a mental health professional facilitated support group for the patients with schizophrenia; 3) access to mental health, medical, and social services experts to pose questions and rapidly receive answers; 4) a Ask Our Experts Your Questions library of previously asked and answered questions; 5) a library of reading materials to reinforce and update key topics covered in the Psychoeducational Survival Skills Workshop; and 6) a library of state, federal, and community. A working prototype of this computer-based intervention, with estimates of the size of the intervention's effects on patient relapse, family distress, and family knowledge of schizophrenia, and data on users' acceptance and utilization, will be essential for us to develop a full-scale clinical trial of the intervention's effectiveness. The project will utilize a randomized control group design, with 17 pairs of subjects (patient and primary family caregiver) in each group.