Electronic Self-management Resource Training for Mental Health (eSMART-MH)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether mental health treatment disengagement may be mitigated by reducing barriers to self-management and enhancing self-management skills.

Each year, more than four million young adults (age 18-25 years old) in the U.S. receive psychotropic medication or psychotherapy as treatment for a mental illness. One in every four of these young adults will disengage from mental health treatment before significant symptom remission is achieved. Mental health treatment disengagement may be mitigated by reducing barriers to self-management and enhancing self-management skills. Electronic self-management resource training for mental health (eSMART-MH) is an innovative use of avatars-virtual persons who tailor responses to users-to improve mental health treatment disengagement.

Involves simulated interactions between participants and the virtual health care providers (avatars).

20 minute screen-based educational videos on topics about healthy living--nutrition, physical activity, and sleep hygiene.

Medical Adherence Measure Medication Module (MAMMM) is a 7-item scale that will determine the patient's degree of engagement and initiation of mental health treatment.

A 6-item four point Likert type scale that asks participants to rate each item from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree); a higher score indicates more mental illness stigma.

A 12-item scale that utilizes a 7-point Likert type scale with responses ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Total scores range from 12-84, with a higher score indicating higher mental health literacy.

13-item measure that assesses the patient's perception of their knowledge, skill, and confidence in self-management behavior. Scores range from 0-100, with a higher score indicating greater patient activation.

A 16-item five point Likert scale that asks participants to rate items from 5 (important) to 1 (unimportant); a higher score indicates greater perceived self-competence and effective communication with a health care provider.

A 14-item self-report measure that assesses anxiety and depression symptom severity. The HADS contains separate subscales (7 items each) for depression and anxiety; items are scored on a four point scale from 0-4, and a summative score is generated for each subscale. A cut score of 8 signifies an increased clinical risk for anxiety and depression.

To assess feasibility, the frequency of refusals and incidence of complete intervention doses will be documented. Acceptability will be assessed by utilizing and adapted acceptability scale administered at the final time point.

Inclusion Criteria: Self-report of a diagnosis depression or generalized anxiety disorder greater than six months Young adults 18-25 years of age Prescribed psychotropic medication and/or psychotherapy Have a documented domestic telephone number Able to read and understand English Exclusion Criteria: Participation in the eSMART-HD parent project