Enhancing Veteran-Clinician Collaboration in VA Care for Serious Mental Illness

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The project provides a group-based Collaborative Decision Skills Training (CDST) called Leveling Up to Veterans receiving VA mental health services at three regional PRRCs. It aims to increase comfort, knowledge, and skills for shared decision-making between Veterans and their treatment teams. The study builds on prior feasibility work and will evaluate effectiveness in improving collaboration, personal recovery, empowerment, treatment engagement, and social functioning among 119 Veterans. It emphasizes recovery-oriented care and inclusion of Veterans from minoritized groups. Outcomes will help refine how CDST can be implemented in VA PRRC settings.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Be a Veteran currently receiving Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Center (PRRC), Mental Health Intensive Case Management (MHICM) and/or Behavioral Health Interdisciplinary Program (BHIP) services at VA San Diego, Los Angeles, or Albuquerque (e.g., seen in the clinic in the past month or based on clinic criteria)
2. Meet Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) criteria of serious mental illness; i.e., "having (within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities," based on chart review and clinician consultation if needed
3. Be fluent and literate in English
4. Agree to have a subset of VA mental health treatment appointments audiotaped

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Primary substance use or organic neurological disorder diagnosis determined by chart review
2. Are determined by clinician and/or study staff to be at significant risk of exacerbation of symptoms, suicidal ideation, or other risk due to study participation
3. Have a history and/or current risk of violence that clinicians and/or study staff determine to be too high risk to manage effectively in the study setting (e.g., poses a risk to Veterans or study staff)

Where it's running

• New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM
  Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Recruiting
• VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
  San Diego, California, United States Not yet recruiting
• VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
  West Los Angeles, California, United States Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Emily Treichler, PhD — VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA
• Study coordinator: Emily Treichler, PhD
• Email: Emily.Treichler@va.gov
• Phone: (858) 552-8585

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Valbenazine for adults with tardive dyskinesia who remain symptomatic on or after a VMAT2 inhibitor

  This trial will test whether valbenazine reduces involuntary movements in adults with tardive dyskinesia who still have symptoms while taking or after stopping a VMAT2 inhibitor.

  Recruiting at 19 sites Phase 4 Neurocrine Biosciences · Bryant, Arkansas and 18 other locations · NCT07105111

• Venous Tourniquet with Low-Dose Sugammadex vs Arterial Tourniquet for Seizure Monitoring During ECT

  40 patients undergoing ECT will have a venous tourniquet on one arm and an arterial tourniquet on the other to see which method better reveals motor seizures.

  Recruiting Medipol University · Istanbul · NCT07534475

• À deux, c'est mieux — group program to improve romantic relationships for young adults with severe mental illness

  This program will try a 12-week, small-group course to help single adults with severe mental illness build skills for dating, communication, and closer social relationships.

  Recruiting at 2 sites Centre hospitalier de Ville-Evrard, France · Épinay-sur-Seine, Île-de-France Region and 1 other locations · NCT07316803

• Understanding early psychosis and its biological markers

  This study is trying to find out more about early signs of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by looking at brain scans and other health data from around 320 participants over a year.

  Recruiting at 6 sites Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Hartford, Connecticut and 5 other locations · NCT06740383

• Peer-delivered illness self-management program for college students with serious mental illnesses

  This study tests if a peer-led program called Taking Action can help college students with serious mental illnesses manage their condition better and improve their academic performance.

  Recruiting Temple University · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · NCT06700902

• Improving rehabilitation for veterans with serious mental illness

  This study is testing a new computer program to help veterans with serious mental illnesses improve their thinking and daily life skills.

  Recruiting VA Office of Research and Development · San Diego, California · NCT06586164

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.