Multi-component mHealth support to smooth the transition from hospital to outpatient care for people with serious mental illness
Official title: Effectiveness of a multi-component mHealth intervention to improve post-hospital transitions of care for patients with SMI
Funded at Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) · NIH-11378330 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone-based program called tFOCUS helps adults with serious mental illness stay connected to care after leaving the hospital to reduce gaps and keep them on treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $705,836 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130496-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378330 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21+ years) with serious mental illness recently discharged from acute psychiatric hospitalization who are able to use a smartphone and engage with digital health tools.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to a smartphone or who are unable to use mobile health apps may receive limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
After discharge from an acute psychiatric stay, many patients struggle to stay connected with outpatient care. This project tests a smartphone app (tFOCUS) that provides real-time check-ins and interventions, plus a clinician dashboard to monitor status and respond quickly. It is designed as a fully powered trial combining effectiveness and real-world implementation to speed up adoption in practice. The goal is to improve how patients cope with illness and feel about their treatment, reducing crises and gaps in care. The study takes place at Butler Hospital, with results intended to inform routine post-discharge care for people with serious mental illness.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may experience safer, more seamless transitions from hospital to outpatient care and better engagement with treatment after discharge.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests digital post-discharge support can improve care continuity, with this study extending to a rigorous effectiveness-implementation trial.
Where this research is happening
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Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gaudiano, Brandon a — Butler Hospital (Providence, Ri)
- Study coordinator: Gaudiano, Brandon a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.