Mobile intervention to help homeless veterans with serious mental illness integrate into the community

Improving Community Integration in Homeless Veterans With Serious Mental Illness: A Pilot Study of MI-CBT Enhanced With Mobile Technology

Not applicable Interventional VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06138054

This study is testing a new mobile program to help homeless veterans with serious mental health issues better connect with their community and find stable housing.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment50 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 65 Years
SexAll
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development Federal
Locations1 site (West Los Angeles, California)
Trial IDNCT06138054 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study tests a mobile intervention called MI-CBTech, which combines Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to improve community integration for homeless-experienced veterans with serious mental illness. The intervention includes both in-person sessions and remote elements delivered via mobile phone, addressing the challenges veterans face in transitioning from temporary to permanent housing. A control group will receive remote mindfulness training to compare outcomes. The study aims to enroll 50 veterans, randomly assigning them to either the MI-CBTech intervention or the control arm.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are veterans aged 18-65 with a diagnosis of psychotic illness, a history of homelessness, and currently residing at the VA Greater Los Angeles Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program.

Not a fit: Patients with significant neurological disorders, serious head injuries, low IQ, or recent severe substance use disorders may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly enhance the quality of life and community engagement for veterans with serious mental illness who have experienced homelessness.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown success with mobile interventions for mental health, but this specific approach targeting homeless veterans is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Veterans currently residing at the VA Greater Los Angeles Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (Domiciliary)
* age 18-65 years
* diagnosis of non-affective or affective psychotic illness as confirmed by chart review
* history of homelessness
* sufficiently fluent in English to consent, understand procedures, and complete assessments and intervention
* medically and clinically stable (i.e. able to participate in and complete assessments and intervention).

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of clinically significant neurological disorder determined by medical history (e.g., epilepsy)
* history of serious head injury (i.e., loss of consciousness \> 1 hr, neuropsychological sequelae, cognitive rehabilitation post head injury)
* evidence of IQ \< 70 or developmental disability
* moderate or severe substance use disorder in the past month based on chart review

Where this trial is running

West Los Angeles, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Schizophrenia Spectrum DisordersPsychotic Affective DisordersPsychotic Mood DisordersHomelessnessIll-Housed PersonsCommunity IntegrationTelerehabilitationTelemedicine
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.