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Psychotic DisordersMILO-PilotNCT04010747

Pilot Study of Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones

A study testing Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO) and Mental Health Services Consultation and Waitlist in people with Psychotic Disorders and Psychosis, run by Boston Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The study population for this research will include parents and concerned significant others (PCSO) of individuals experiencing recent (past five years) onset of a psychotic disorder (hereafter referred to as individuals with psychosis, "IP") who are not currently engaged with, or at risk for disengagement from… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Psychotic Disorders, Psychosis, Psychotic Episode
What is being tested?
Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO) and Mental Health Services Consultation and Waitlist
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
71 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
1 Mar 2020to 30 Apr 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Age 18 or older
  • Primary caregiver or other close contact of an individual within first 5 years of onset of a psychotic disorder who is poorly engaged or unengaged in psychiatric treatment

Who cannot join

  • Not able to provide informed consent
  • Not proficient in English
  • History of developmental delay
  • Current acute mental health problem or distress

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Boston Medical Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02118

Other trials in United States

About this study

The study population for this research will include parents and concerned significant others (PCSO) of individuals experiencing recent (past five years) onset of a psychotic disorder (hereafter referred to as individuals with psychosis, "IP") who are not currently engaged with, or at risk for disengagement from, treatment. MILO is a brief and structured intervention that teaches motivational interviewing communication strategies. The initial aim (phase 1) of this pilot study is to evaluate feasibility of the intervention. The secondary aims are to evaluate the effectiveness of MILO for (1) enhancing the engagement of IP with evidence-based treatments and (2) reducing distress among PCSO. The investigators hypothesize that the intervention will be superior to control condition for both enhancing IP engagement with mental health services and reducing PCSO distress.

Read the detailed description

First Episode Psychosis (FEP) often represents a time of crisis for young people and their families. Since peak onset occurs during late adolescence and early adulthood, the onset of serious mental health challenges can disrupt plans for education, relationships, and other milestones of independence. Although some psychoses are brief and self-limiting, more often these symptoms portend a potentially chronic and disabling psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia. FEP can also be acutely dangerous: youth with FEP are far more likely to die in the year following their diagnosis relative to the general population of 16-30 year old's in the United States. Approximately 100,000 youth in the United States experience FEP every year. Young people identified by providers as experiencing FEP often slip through the cracks before they reach appropriate treatment. A review of privately insured adolescents and young adults in the US showed that 62% of young people in the US with FEP filled no outpatient prescriptions, and 41% received no outpatient psychotherapy, in the year following their index diagnosis. Among those who do have an initial encounter with specialized FEP outpatient care, high attrition is a common problem, with 30% of individuals initially enrolled in first episode programs dropping out prior to completing treatment.

Many individuals experiencing psychosis are reluctant to seek mental health treatment due to lack of insight and fear of psychiatric interventions. Young adults may be torn between distress and dissatisfaction relating to their symptoms and functioning, and mistrust of mental health providers and irritation with their parents' concern. Motivational Interviewing (MI) techniques are designed to elicit this ambivalence through nonjudgmental listening, so that discrepancies between current behaviors and ideal outcomes can be explored. Clinician-delivered MI has been identified as effective for enhancing adherence once individuals with psychosis are involved in care, and may also be useful for engaging those who are not yet interested in treatment. Several studies have found positive results in training and deploying non-professionals to use MI to influence others' health behaviors. MI training for parents and concerned significant others (PCSO) is a promising venue through which PCSO can specifically influence their loved one's decision to seek care and adhere to treatment plans.

MILO is a structured and goal oriented intervention that seeks to accomplish two aims. The primary aim is to facilitate the engagement of IP with evidence-based treatments. The secondary aim is to reduce the distress and increase the wellbeing of PCSO. The intervention will be trialed for feasibility (phase 1, n = 30) and then tested against a small "treatment as usual" (TAU) control arm (phase 2, n = 40). During phase 2, participants will be randomly assigned to either receive MILO (50%) or TAU (50%). The trial will involve a total of 70 participants.

Being tested
Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO), Mental Health Services Consultation and Waitlist
Keywords
Parents, Family Members, Partner, Domestic
Medical subject headings
Psychotic Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO)Behavioural

    4 sessions of behavioral coaching in motivational interviewing communication techniques

  • Mental Health Services Consultation and WaitlistBehavioural

    1 session of individualized consultation on relevant mental health services for the IP and participating PCSO and 6 weeks on a waitlist, followed by opportunity to participate in MILO sessions.

Study groups in NCT04010747
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO)ExperimentalMILO consists of four sessions of "coaching" in communication skills called motivational interviewing. Participants meet with a trainer/therapist for each session. At the first session, participants learn about the ideas behind motivational interviewing. In the second session, participants practice motivational interviewing skills. In the third and fourth sessions, the participant and therapist discuss the participant's efforts to communicate with their loved one using MI skills. Participants will also be offered direct assistance with a referral to mental health treatment for their loved one.
Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO)
Mental Health Services Consultation and WaitlistActive comparatorThis consultation will consist of a 30 minute appointment in which participants can speak with a clinician knowledgeable about psychosis treatment resources. He/she can recommend specific programs, educational websites, and/or support groups that might be relevant for the participant's family. Participants will then be placed on a 6-week waitlist, after which they will have the opportunity to participate in the active intervention (four sessions of MILO).
Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO); Behavioral: Mental Health Services Consultation and Waitlist

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in the Number of Mental Health Related Appointments Attended by the Individual With Psychosis (IP) in the Past 30 Days

    The participant will report the number of mental health related appointments attended by the IP during the past month via a structured survey.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (2)
  1. Change in Parents and Concerned Significant Others (PCSO) Expressed Emotion

    Caregiver attitudes toward individual with psychosis; measured via 20-item "family questionnaire" (FQ). The FQ has is a 20 item scale with a total score range of 20-80. Higher scores indicate more expressed emotion (i.e. critical and over-involved attitudes toward family member).

    Measured: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks

  2. Change in Parents and Concerned Significant Others (PCSO) Distress

    Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders experienced by the PCSO; measured via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The PSS is a 10 item questionnaire with a total score range of 0-40. Higher total scores indicate higher stress.

    Measured: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted8 Jul 2019
  2. Study start1 Mar 2020
  3. Primary completion30 Apr 2022
  4. Study completion30 Apr 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Model description
The first 30 participants to enroll in this study will receive a training intervention called "Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones" (MILO). After that, participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention (MILO) or to a control condition involving a 30-minute mental health services consultation and a 6 week waitlist followed by the opportunity to participate in the MILO intervention ("Phase 2")
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
71 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04010747
Sponsor's protocol ID
H-41305
Other IDs
5K23MH118373-04, 2019P-000473
Acronym
MILO-Pilot
Status last verified
Apr 2023
First submitted
2 Jul 2019
Last updated
7 Apr 2023
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Kline ER, Thibeau H, Sanders AS, English K, Davis BJ, Fenley AR, Keshavan MS. Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones in Early Psychosis: Development and Pilot Feasibility Trial of a Brief Psychoeducational Intervention for Caregivers. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Apr 1;12:659568. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.659568. eCollection 2021.

    PubMed 33868061

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (MILO) and Mental Health Services Consultation and Waitlist in people with Psychotic Disorders and Psychosis, run by Boston Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Apr 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 Apr 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in the Number of Mental Health Related Appointments Attended by the Individual With Psychosis (IP) in the Past 30 Days (time frame: Change from Baseline to 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04010747, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Apr 2023.

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