ISRCTN ISRCTN88987322
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN88987322
Secondary identifying numbers 80-83700-98-132069
Submission date
14/10/2013
Registration date
13/05/2014
Last edited
05/03/2021
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
People suffering from Severe Mental Illness (SMI) require rehabilitation in many areas of life. The Boston University approach to Psychiatric Rehabilitation (BPR) has been developed to help people with Severe Mental Illness reach their goals in the areas of living independently, social contacts, work and meaningful activities in society. Previous research showed partially positive results of BPR. The BPR approach led to increases in participation in work, schooling and independent living and to improved functioning and a better quality of life. In this study, we will compare BPR to usual care in the area of societal participation (work, study, daily activities). We will also find out about if it is financially viable.

Who can participate?
We aim to recruit 250 patients with severe mental illness between 18 and 60 years of age with a wish for a positive change in the area of societal participation.

What does the study involve?
Participants will be randomly allocated to two groups. One group will receive usual care and the other group will receive support according to the BPR. In each group, patients will be offered individual sessions at least once every 2 weeks. At 6 and 12 months, we will assess societal participation in both groups by means of structured interviews and questionnaires. Also, information will be gathered on social functioning, psychiatric symptoms, quality of life and care consumption. This information is used to decide if the BPR approach is more cost effective than usual care.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
All participants will receive additional support to help them achieve their rehabilitation goals. If the participant wishes, the sessions may be continued after the study is completed. The risks of the study are evaluated as 'very low'. By taking part in the study, participants will not experience risks other than those normally involved in clinical psychiatric treatment.

Where is the study run from?
The study will take place in two large mental health care centers in the Netherlands, 'Altrecht Mental Health Care' and 'Dijk en Duin' and an organization for sheltered and supported living 'Promens Care'.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in January 2014 and will run for 3 years. Patients will be recruited over the first 2 years and will participate in the study for 1 year.

Who is funding the study?
The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (Netherlands).

Who is the main contact?
Dr Wilma Swildens
w.swildens@altrecht.nl

Contact information

Dr Wilma Swildens
Scientific

Lange Nieuwstraat 119
Utrecht
3512 PG
Netherlands

Phone + 31 (0)30 230 88 65
Email w.swildens@altrecht.nl

Study information

Study designMulticenter randomized clinical trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleSocietal participation with Boston Psychiatric Rehabilitation for patients with severe mental illness: a cost effectiveness study
Study objectivesBoston Psychiatric Rehabilitation is expected to be effective and cost-effective compared to care as usual in realising patients' goals regarding societal participation. Attending effectively to severe mental illness (SMI) patients' participation needs is expected to promote greater independence of care and so reduce health costs.
Ethics approval(s)Medical Ethical Committee of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG); 29/11/2013; ref.: 2013/70
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSevere Mental Illness
InterventionParticipants will receive BPR or care-as-usual for 1 year.

Boston Psychiatric Rehabilitation (BPR) uses a methodology that helps patients to explore, choose and realize their rehabilitation goals in the areas of working, learning, social contacts and living environment. The approach has three phases:

1. Setting a goal: helping patients gain insight into their goals in the areas of work and study, social contacts and living environment and into the skills and resources needed to attain these goals
2. Planning: describing necessary interventions (skills training, support) to achieve these goals
3. Carry out these interventions.

MHC workers receive training and gather practical experience with BPR under the supervision of experts of the Dutch BPR foundation. BPR is a comprehensive approach that can be used in different contexts such as inpatient settings, assertive outreach teams [(F)ACT teams], and in combination with more specific rehabilitation interventions (f.i. social skills training) and support systems.

In this study, BPR will be compared to care-as-usual. In both conditions, patients will be offered individual sessions at least once every 2 weeks to address their rehabilitation needs on the areas of societal participation. The professionals in the control condition offer support to patients in clarifying and realizing their goals on the basis of generic MHC models; generic mental health nurse care, social work and generic vocational rehabilitation programmes.

Measurements will take place at baseline, 6 months and 12 months after enrollment.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Increase in societal participation (getting paid work, voluntary work, and schooling (yes/no; after 6 and 12 months), measured with the Birchwood Social Functioning Scale (Birchwood et al., 1990)
2. Change in social participation expressed in terms of incremental cost per proportion increase in societal participation
3. A cost-utility analysis in terms of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QUALY)
Secondary outcome measures1. Change in the number of hours of societal participation and in the position of patients on the national societal participation ladder (Divosa, www.participatieladder.nl)
2. Patients' experience of success (yes/no) in achieving societal participation goals in the areas addressed, such as work and schooling. For this purpose we developed an instrument in previous RCTs (Swildens et al., 2011)
3. Change in quality of life measured by the Manchester Quality of life Schedule (MANSA); (Priebe S, 1999)
4. Change in functioning is measured from different perspectives. First, psychosocial functioning is measured by the Birchwood Social Functioning Scale (Birchwood et al., 1990). Further change in psychosocial functioning is measured from the Mental Health Care team's perspective with the Activity and Participation scale (Van Wel et al., 2002). Further change in symptomatic functioning and psychiatric remission is measured with the (remission items) of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (Ventura et al., 1993)
5. Increase of self-esteem with the Recovery Assessment Scale (Corrigan et al., 2004)
Overall study start date01/01/2014
Completion date31/01/2017

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit60 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants250
Total final enrolment188
Key inclusion criteria1. Having Severe Mental Illness (SMI): a diagnosis according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) IV, duration of service contact more than two years; GAF S-D score indicating substantial handicaps in global psychosocial functioning [Global Assessment of Functioning - Symptoms and Disabilities (GAF S-D); score 60 or lower]
2. Expressing a wish for change in societal participation (work, education, daily activities outside the home)
3. Between 18-60 years of age
4. Willing to participate in a rehabilitation process and in the research
Key exclusion criteria1. Legally incompetent
2. Younger than 18 years
3. Older than 60 years. We decided for the maximum age of 60 years because patients with older age usually have different goals in social participation, notably other than obtaining regular employment.
4. Received Boston Psychiatric Rehabilitation in the 4 months preceding the start of the trial
5. Admitted as inpatient to a Mental Health Care (MHC) centre
Date of first enrolment06/03/2014
Date of final enrolment01/01/2016

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

Lange Nieuwstraat 119
Utrecht
3512 PG
Netherlands

Sponsor information

Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) (Netherlands)
Research organisation

Postbox 93 245
The Hague
2509 AE
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)70 349 51 11
Email info@zonmw.nl
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/01yaj9a77

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
Private sector organisation / Other non-profit organizations
Alternative name(s)
Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
Location
Netherlands

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 15/09/2015 Yes No
Results article results 23/09/2020 05/03/2021 Yes No

Editorial Notes

05/03/2021: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
29/04/2020: The recruitment start date was changed from 01/01/2014 to 06/03/2014.