Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Psychosis is a mental health issue that consists of symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts and behaviours. Psychosis is among the most disabling mental health issues affecting young people today. When psychosis is untreated, it can often lead to significant difficulties in terms of functioning at home and in the community. We now have treatments available for psychosis that include medication, and psychological and social therapies. However, youth face multiple barriers in accessing these psychological and social therapies. New approaches that are accessible and engaging are needed to support recovery from psychosis in the longer-term. The objective of this study is to assess whether it is feasible and acceptable to youth to use a web-based social therapy to sustain recovery and prevent relapses in youth that are receiving treatment for psychosis.
Who can participate?
Adults with a psychotic disorder who are receiving specialised services for first-episode psychosis
What does the study involve?
Participants will have access to a version of the website that is adapted for use in Canada (this version of the website is referred to as Horyzons-Canada). While using Horyzons-Canada, participants will be able to access information and educational activities to support their recovery and well-being. Participants will also be able to communicate with clinicians, peers, and a peer support worker through the website. Participants will be invited to an initial interview to obtain baseline information about their mental health and well-being and will be introduced to the website before being able to use it at their convenience. After approximately 1 month of accessing the website, participants will be invited to participate at a focus group meeting with other participants. At the end of 8 weeks of having access to the intervention, participants will be invited to an exit Interview where they will be asked questions asked about their mental health and well-being as well as their experiences and perspectives on the website.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There may be a personal benefit from participating in this research project, but this is not guaranteed. There may also be a personal benefit from participating, knowing that the results obtained will contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge and ultimately help to improve services for others. Possible risks include the time burden of the individual interviews and group meetings (including travel time), and engaging with the website. There is no risk of physical harm by participating in this study because there will be no medical procedures. However, some may experience emotional discomfort discussing topics pertaining to mental health and recovery. It is also possible that confidentiality might be broken, or sensitive information disclosed by other participants attending the focus group meeting or based on participation in the online platform. In order to avoid this, each participant will be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of their consent to participate, which asks him or her not to disclose information obtained from the platform or the focus group discussion outside these contexts.
Where is the study run from?
Prevention and Early Intervention Program for Psychoses at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal (Canada)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2017 to October 2019
Who is funding the study?
1. NARSAD Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation (USA)
2. Quebec Health Research Funding Agency (FRQS) (Canada)
3. Canada Research Chairs Program (Canada)
Who is the main contact?
Shalini Lal, PhD, MSc, BScOT (Reg. QC)
shalini.lal@umontreal.ca
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Shalini Lal
ORCID ID
Contact details
Centre de recherche du CHUM (CRCHUM)
Pavillon S - 850
rue St-Denis
S03.328
Montreal
H2X 0A9
Canada
15148908000 x31676
shalini.lal@umontreal.ca
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
HCA-P2
Study information
Scientific title
eHealth intervention to promote recovery and prevent relapses in youth receiving services for first-episode psychosis: pilot study evaluating the acceptability, safety, and potential benefits of Horyzons-Canada
Acronym
HoryzonsCa Pilot Study
Study hypothesis
Primary hypothesis:
Horyzons will be acceptable to patients based on quantitative and qualitative data obtained through:
1. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire (HC-AUSI-Q) consisting of open and closed questions on general experience, perceived usefulness (helpfulness), ease of use
2. Website usage analytics (e.g., frequency of logins)
Secondary hypotheses:
1. Horyzons will be safe, defined as:
1.1. No adverse events, reports or incidents (e.g., hospitalization, suicidal ideation, disclosure to treatment team regarding harm) in relation to use of the online system from baseline assessment to follow-up
1.2. At least 70% of participants report that they agree or strongly agree with perceived safety of the platform, and at least 70% of the participants report that they agree or strongly agree with perceived confidentiality of information shared on the platform.
We will also determine safety through qualitatively assessing perceptions of the Horyzons platform (e.g., experiences, concerns).
2. Participants using the Horyzons platform will show improvement or no deterioration on the Clinical Global Impression Scale and on measures related to social functioning, social support, and depression.
Ethics approval
Douglas Mental Health University Institute Research Ethics Board, 11/04/2018, #IUSMD 17-54
Study design
Interventional single-centre single-group pre-post concurrent mixed-methods non-randomised uncontrolled study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Condition
First-episode psychosis
Intervention
The intervention consists of access to a Web-based portal that includes interactive strengths-based psychosocial interventions (based on positive psychology, CBT for coping and mindfulness, and psychoeducation), peer-to-peer Web-based social networking, as well as clinical and peer moderation to provide guidance and ensure safety. The clinical and peer moderation is informed by self-determination theory and supportive accountability to enhance engagement with the Web-based intervention and motivation in social and psychological functioning. The web-based platform was originally developed in Australia (Horyzons) and has been adapted for use in Canada (HoryzonsCA).
The intervention will be studied using a single-group, mixed-methods, pre-post design. A total of 20 to 25 participants will be recruited into the study and will be provided with access to the website intervention, which is mainly a User-Driven system. This means that there is no minimum requirement for using the website and participants can use whichever parts of the system they choose. Expert moderators will help users make the most of the system and encourage a positive, supportive and safe experience. To support engagement with Horyzons, moderation will be informed by self-determination theory (SDT) which is concerned with supporting our natural or intrinsic tendencies to behave in effective and healthy ways.
Upon consenting to participate in the study, participants will be invited to an initial interview to obtain baseline information about their mental health and well-being and will be introduced to the website before being able to use it at their convenience. After approximately 1 month of accessing the website, participants will be invited to participate in a focus group meeting with other participants. At the end of 8 weeks of having access to the intervention, participants will be invited to an exit Interview where they will be asked questions asked about their mental health and well-being as well as their experiences and perspectives of the website. The follow-up duration, for the purpose of the pilot study, is thus 8 weeks. Participants will be recruited and given access to the website in waves; at a rate of approximately 3 to 5 participants per week until the total sample (20 to 25) has been obtained. After completing the 8 week follow-up, participants will still have access to the website. However, once the target sample has been obtained, and all follow-up data has been collected, participant access to the website will be removed so that analysis can be completed.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Acceptability (perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness), assessed by the following:
1. Horyzons-Canada Acceptability, Usability, Safety, and Impact Questionnaire (HC-AUSI-Q), a questionnaire and semi-structured interview that includes questions on perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, enjoyment, and safety. This will be assessed at the baseline (initial interview and orientation meeting) and at the 8 week follow-up (Horyzons exit interview)
2. Website usage analytics, in terms of frequency, duration and patterns of use over the study duration
Secondary outcome measures
1. Safety, assessed using:
1.1. Specific questions in the HC-AUSI-Q examining users views and experience on Horyzons-Canada. In addition, any incidents and adverse events in relation to use of the online system will be carefully monitored and quantified. This will be assessed at the 8 week follow-up.
1.2. Semi-structured interviews (assessed at the 8 week follow-up) and focus group discussion (qualitative data) (assessed at 4 week follow-up).
2. Social functioning, measured at the baseline and 8 week follow-up using the following:
2.1. Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS)
2.2. Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP)
3. Global improvement and therapeutic response, assessed using the Clinical Global Impression ( CGI) at the baseline and 8 week follow-up
4. The following will be assessed at baseline and 8 week follow-up:
4.1. Positive and negative symptoms, depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideations, assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS)
4.2. Positive symptoms, assessed using the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms (SAPS)
4.3. Social support, assessed using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS)
4.4. Negative symptoms, assessed using the Scale for the Assessment of negative symptoms (SANS)
4.5. Self-esteem, assessed using the Self-Esteem Rating Scale (SES)
4.6. Strengths, assessed using the Strengths Use Scale (SUS)
4.7. Depression, assessed using the Calgary Depression Scale (CDS)
5. Access and use of technology, assessed using the Access and Use of Technology Questionnaire at the baseline
6. Impact of the intervention, assessed qualitatively through focus group discussion at the 4 week follow-up and through semi-structured interviews at the 8 week follow-up
Overall trial start date
01/06/2017
Overall trial end date
01/10/2019
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Diagnosis of a psychotic disorder by a clinician, which can include affective psychosis or non-affective psychoses
2. Receiving specialized services for first-episode psychosis
3. Considered symptomatically stable,as judged by their primary clinicians
4. Capable of interacting on the online platform and participating in focus groups and semi-structured interviews, as judged by their primary clinicians
5. 18 years of age or older
6. Low or at most moderate suicidal risk for the month preceding study entry
7. Able to nominate an emergency contact to be eligible for the study
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
20 to 25
Total final enrolment
20
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Intellectual disability
2. Hospitalization at the time of recruitment
3. Inability to speak or read English
4. Individuals diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder and/or borderline personality disorder
5. Individuals in the acute phase of mania or psychosis
Recruitment start date
17/09/2018
Recruitment end date
01/06/2019
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Canada
Trial participating centre
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
6875 Blvd LaSalle
Montreal
H4H1R3
Canada
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé
Alternative name(s)
Fonds de la recherche en sante du Quebec, FRQS
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Funder name
Canada Research Chairs
Alternative name(s)
Chaires de recherche du Canada
Funding Body Type
unknown
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at peer-reviewed scientific conferences.
IPD sharing statement:
The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
01/10/2020
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list