Community support program to help adults with severe mental illness transition from hospital to home in Pietermaritzburg
Feasibility and Acceptability of Critical Time Intervention to Support People With Severe Mental Illness Following Post-acute Hospital Discharge in South Africa
This project will try a co‑developed, community‑based support program to help adults with severe mental illness stay well and avoid rehospitalization after leaving psychiatric hospital.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 86 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of KwaZulu Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal) |
| Trial ID | NCT07339462 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This pilot implements a co‑developed, multi‑level health system strengthening intervention in a South African district to improve transitions from acute psychiatric care to community settings. Components include streamlined referral processes across facilities, a psychosocial rehabilitation program, and structured support for caregivers and patients after discharge. The project will recruit adults hospitalized for acute severe mental illness, deliver the intervention in the local community, and collect feasibility, appropriateness, and limited efficacy outcomes including readmission rates and implementation measures. Results will inform whether the program can be scaled or adapted for other low‑resource settings.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) admitted to a psychiatric ward for an acute psychotic or severe mood episode (ICD F20–F29, F30–F39 including specified psychotic mood disorders) who are being discharged back into community settings and are willing and able to participate are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who remain in long‑term inpatient care, have primary neurocognitive or medical conditions rather than primary severe mental illness, lack safe community discharge arrangements, or are unwilling/unable to engage with community supports may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce hospital readmissions and provide sustained community support that improves recovery and quality of life for people with severe mental illness.
How similar studies have performed: Related community‑based and transitional psychosocial interventions and co‑development approaches have shown promise in reducing readmissions and improving outcomes in some settings, but rigorous evidence from low‑resource South African districts is still limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Service user inclusion criteria: * Adults (aged 18 years and above); * Being admitted to the psychiatric ward of a hospital for observation and treatment due to an acute psychiatric event, based on ICD diagnosis on patient charts according to the following criteria: * F20-29 including schizophrenia, delusional disorders, schizotypal disorders, acute polymorph psychotic disorders, schizoaffective disorders * F30-39 Mood \[affective\] disorders with psychoses * F30.2 Mania with psychotic symptoms * F31.2 Bipolar affective disorder, current episode manic with psychotic symptoms * F31.5 Bipolar affective disorder, current episode severe depression with psychotic symptoms * F32.3 Severe depressive episode with psychotic symptoms * F33.3 Recurrent depressive disorder, current episode severe with psychotic symptoms * Determined by the attending psychiatrist to be discharged into community settings following appropriate recovery from the psychiatric event; * Willing and able to participate in the intervention programme * Resides with a caregiver (which could be a family member or member of the household). * Resides within the geographic boundaries of uMgungundlovu Service user exclusion criteria: * Under 18 years of age * Are indicated by their chart history to have the following conditions: * Active suicidal ideation * Substance abuse or dependence as primary diagnosed psychiatric condition * Personality disorders * Serious cognitive or other sensorial impairment likely to preclude informed consent and reliable assessment * Does not reside with a caregiver * Does not reside within the geographic boundaries of uMgungundlovu Caregiver inclusion criteria * Adults (aged 18 years and above) * Willing and able to participate in the intervention programme * Resides with a caregiver (which could be a family member or member of the household). * Resides within the geographic boundaries of uMgungundlovu Caregiver exclusion criteria * Adults (aged 18 years and above) * Willing and able to participate in the intervention programme * Resides with a caregiver (which could be a family member or member of the household). * Resides within the geographic boundaries of uMgungundlovu
Where this trial is running
Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
- Msunduzi Local Municipality — Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: André Janse van Rensburg, PhD
- Email: jansevanrensburga@ukzn.ac.za
- Phone: +27312601569
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.