Using peer specialists to teach social skills to veterans with mental illness
Evaluating the Use of Peer Specialists to Deliver Cognitive Behavioral Social Skills Training
This study is looking at how veterans with serious mental illness can benefit from social skills training led by Peer Specialists—who have similar experiences—compared to traditional training, to see if this approach helps them improve their social skills and thinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11216506 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how Peer Specialists, who are individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) themselves, can effectively deliver Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) to fellow veterans. The approach focuses on utilizing the lived experiences of these Peer Specialists to help others correct thinking errors and enhance their social skills. By comparing the outcomes of veterans receiving CBSST from Peer Specialists to those receiving traditional social skills training, the study aims to assess the effectiveness and accessibility of these recovery-oriented interventions. This could potentially lead to broader implementation of these programs within the Veterans Health Administration.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with serious mental illness who are seeking support in improving their social skills.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have a diagnosis of serious mental illness may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve access to effective social skills training for veterans with serious mental illness.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that peer-led interventions can be effective, suggesting a promising avenue for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- Veterans Health Administration — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chinman, Matthew — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Chinman, Matthew
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 below.