Citation

Hailemariam M, Weinstock LM, Johnson JE. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2020; 6(1).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s40814-020-00659-1

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Serious mental illness (SMI) is a prevalent public health problem affecting 25% of individuals in jail. Re-entry to the community following incarceration is a vulnerable time for justice-involved individuals with SMI. SMI requires prompt and ongoing access to mental health and other healthcare services.

METHODS: The study will (1) develop a Mentoring And Peer Support (MAPS) intervention for post-release mental health and other service connection among jailed individuals with SMI and (2) pilot test the MAPS intervention to determine its feasibility and acceptability. The primary outcomes will be to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the proposed recruitment methods and research design, of the intervention training methods, and of delivering the enhanced peer-navigator and control interventions. Study samples include focus groups (n=36), open trial (n=15), and a randomized pilot trial in a sample of 40 individuals with SMI re-entering the community after jail release. Secondary outcomes will include post-release enrollment in mental health, medical care, and substance use services. We will also evaluate reduction in psychiatric symptoms, improvements in functioning, adherence to psychiatric medications, fewer substance using days, fewer hospitalizations and suicide attempts, nights unstably housed, and time until rearrest.

DISCUSSION: This pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a peer navigation intervention for individuals with serious mental illness leaving jails. The study will serve as a formative work for a larger randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of peer navigator intervention for (include the primary outcome) in this population. © 2020 The Author(s).

Language: en

Keywords

human; bipolar disorder; pilot study; prison; schizophrenia; social support; psychosis; randomized controlled trial; substance use; suicide attempt; major depression; disease severity; mental disease; controlled study; information processing; peer group; demography; medical care; schizoaffective psychosis; delusional disorder; Article; feasibility study; open study; semi structured interview; lifestyle modification; DSM-5; clinical outcome; program acceptability; mentoring peer support