Improving physical health and reducing substance use in psychosis

ISRCTN ISRCTN58667926
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN58667926
Secondary identifying numbers 4399
Submission date
23/04/2010
Registration date
23/04/2010
Last edited
21/06/2018
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The physical health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is very poor, resulting in a markedly increased mortality (death) rate. While risk factors such as age, family traits and ethnicity may increase the risk of physical illness, people with SMI are more likely to lead unhealthy lifestyles, such as eating an unhealthy diet, smoking and not exercising, which increases the risk of preventable physical diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. About 50% of patients with SMI have a substance use disorder; the most common substances used are alcohol and cannabis. Despite being at increased risk, people with SMI are less likely to receive appropriate health checks and adequate treatment due to barriers when accessing services. In light of this the Department of Health have emphasised the importance of good health screening in people with SMI and has led to endorsement of programmes addressing physical health in people with SMI. Despite this, none of these physical health programmes have been adequately tested in the UK. Thus, the development of an integrated approach, which is person centred and simultaneously targets physical health, mental health and substance use, is long overdue in the UK. The aim of this study is to find out whether an intensive health promotion intervention improves the lifestyle and physical health people with SMI, reducing their risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 - 65 with SMI

What does the study involve?
Participants’ care coordinators are randomly allocated to either receive training to give the intervention or to continue giving usual NHS care. In the intervention group the care coordinators ask their patients to attend some 1:1 sessions and if they wish to, group sessions on specific topics of their choice (e.g. smoking, diet etc) which are given alongside the usual care normally received from the care coordinator. In the usual care group participants continue with regular NHS treatment. Participants in both groups are asked various questions about their symptoms, mood, levels of anxiety, diet, exercise, use of NHS services, views on their health risks, and any side effects caused by medication. Their physical health is monitored, including weight, waist, hip and blood pressure measurements. A trained researcher takes a small sample of blood (the equivalent of a few tablespoons) to check blood sugar, cholesterol and fat levels and assess their risk for diabetes, heart disease and other related health problems. Urine and saliva samples are also taken to check for drug use. This information is kept strictly confidential within the research team. At 12 and 15 months the assessments are repeated to investigate changes over time.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
It is hoped that participants will benefit by reducing their risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The risks involved are those of ordinary blood tests such as a slight scratch and occasionally a small bruise from where the sample is taken. Although similar forms of treatment have been used to address the issues outlined above, this treatment has not previously been offered to people with mental health problems. Although no side effects are anticipated, the technique may be found to be ineffective.

Where is the study run from?
King's College London (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2010 to July 2013

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Ms Poonam Gardner Sood

Study website

Contact information

Ms Poonam Gardner Sood
Scientific

IMPACT RCT Trial Coordinator
Room E2.04
Department of Psychosis Studies
Institute of Psychiatry
King's College London
De Crespigny Park
London
SE5 8AF
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designCluster randomised trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleImproving physical health and reducing substance use in psychosis: a multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial (IMPaCT RCT)
Study acronymIMPaCT RCT
Study objectives1. The addition of a 12 month intensive health promotion intervention to usual mental health care delivered by care coordinators will be more effective than usual mental health care in improving metabolic outcomes and substance use on completion of intervention at 12 months and 24 months follow up (from baseline) in people with severe mental illness (defined as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar affective disorder)
2. The addition of an intensive health promotion intervention to usual mental health care delivered by care coordinators will be more cost-effective than usual mental health care in improving metabolic outcomes and substance use in people with severe mental illness on completion of intervention at 12 months and then 24 months later from baseline
Ethics approval(s)The Joint South London and Maudsley and The Institute of Psychiatry NHS Research Ethics Committee, 27/07/2009, ref: 09/H0807/41
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTopic: Mental Health Research Network; Subtopic: Secondary complications; Disease: Severe Mental illness
InterventionPre-randomisation:
Within each of the CMHTs in SLAM, Oxleas and Sussex team leaders who agree to participate in the trial will be asked to present a list of their current care coordinators. These care-coordinators will be offered a basic training delivered in a half day session on physical health awareness. The purpose of this training is to ensure that all care-coordinators, irrespective of which treatment arm they are allocated to, have the same baseline level of understanding of physical health issues. Care-coordinators will then be invited to consent to participate in the trial. Those who consent will be randomly allocated to either treatment arm (HPI or TAU). The care-coordinators allocated to the HPI will undergo specific training to deliver the HPI.

After randomisation:
1. The treatment as usual group (TAU) will consist of continuing usual CMHT care: To control for the attention received in the intervention group a single psycho-education session in which health promotion leaflets on healthy dietary routines and physical exercise together with general and community support for a healthy lifestyle will be provided to care-coordinators.
2. Health Promotion Intervention (HPI): The main philosophy of the health promotion intervention is to teach care co-ordinators relevant motivational interviewing skills that allow them to empower their client, using a directional, client-centered motivational approach to promote intrinsic motivation, better knowledge, coping strategies and new skills to ensure a positive impact on physical well being. In this intervention, consenting care coordinators of the CMHTs that have been randomised to deliver the HPI will be given specific training based on motivational interviewing techniques to deliver health promotion. The intervention aims to target one or more health behaviours from a pre-defined list that includes substance use, exercise, diet, diabetes control, that have been identified as problematic and increased risk for worse medical outcomes by the participant and the care coordinator. The training has already been described and given ethics approval (Physical Health and Substance Use Measures in Psychosis-Manual; ref number 09/H0807/5). The training is manualised and modularised so that the care coordinator can individualise the health promotion intervention to the specific needs of the participant. There will also be a module using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to address psychotic symptoms which are impeding the clients? engagement in the HPI. People may start the community-based HPI as soon as they are well enough to attend, even if they are inpatients, to mirror clinical practice.

Follow up length: 24 months
Study Entry: Registration only
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Quality of life (QLS)
2. Metabolic syndrome components:
2.1. Waist circumference
2.2. Resting blood pressure
2.3. Fasting plasma glucose level, HbA1c, HOMA-IR
2.4. Triglyceride levels
2.5. HDL Cholesterol
3. Cost and cost-effectiveness of the HPI
4. Use of substances
5. PANSS score

Measured at baseline, 3 months, 12 months and 24 months.
Secondary outcome measuresSpecific measures related to each module will be carried out at the end of each module, such as:
1. Diabetes module (glycated haemoglobin and fasting glucose)
2. Substance use module (Time Line Follow Back), Nicotine Dependence Questionnaire
3. Exercise (IPAQ)
4. Diet (waist circumference, weight)

Measured at baseline, 3 months, 12 months and 24 months.
Overall study start date01/02/2010
Completion date01/03/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants84 care coordinators; 504 patients
Key inclusion criteriaAll patients within consenting CMHTs who meet the following criteria will be recruited to the study:
1. Aged between 18 - 65 years old, either sex
2. Have a diagnosis of psychotic disorder including International Classification of Diseases, version 10 (ICD-10) diagnosis F20-29, F31.2, F32.3, F33.3 but excluding first episode psychotic illness as these patients are participating in another study
3. Are registered on the enhanced level of the Care Approach Programme (CPA)
Key exclusion criteria1. Patients with primary diagnosis of learning disability
2. Physical health problem that will independently impact on metabolic measures and substance use
3. Pregnancy as a health promotion intervention may interfere with the necessary care
4. Life threatening or terminal medical conditions in which intensive care is already provided
Date of first enrolment01/03/2010
Date of final enrolment01/07/2013

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
-
United Kingdom
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
-
United Kingdom
Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
-
United Kingdom
Shropshire NHS Foundation Trust
-
United Kingdom
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
-
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)
Government

Room 132, Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NL
United Kingdom

Website http://www.nihr.ac.uk/Pages/default.aspx
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0187kwz08

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK) (ref: 1049)
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe main trial findings will be published in 2016/2017. Subsequently, several other papers will be published to address other important research questions.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from Dr Fiona Gaughran (please contact via Dr Poonam Gardner Sood - poonam.gardner-sood@kcl.ac.uk) and Prof Sir Robin Murray (please contact vie Averil Baxter - Averil.baxter@kcl.ac.uk) on reasonable request.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 16/10/2013 Yes No
Results article results 01/03/2015 Yes No
Results article results 22/03/2016 Yes No
Results article cost-effectiveness results 22/12/2017 Yes No
Results article results 28/12/2017 Yes No

Editorial Notes

21/06/2018: Publication reference added.
14/02/2018: Publication reference added.
23/09/2016: The overall trial end date was changed from 01/02/2013 to 01/03/2014.
22/09/2016: Plain English summary added.
20/05/2016: Publication reference added.
23/03/2016: Publication reference added.