Illness Management and Recovery (IMR) in Danish Community Mental Health Centres (IMR)
Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Schizophrenia focused on measuring recovery, illness management, rehabilitation, mental illness, psychosocial intervention, Clinical recovery (increase in functioning, decrease in symptoms), Personal recovery (Hope, optimism, living a fulfilling life)
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- adults (age 18+)
- both sexes
- associated with one of the two participating community mental health centres
- diagnosed following the ICD-10 criteria of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
- able to speak and understand Danish
- giving informed consent verbally and in writing
Exclusion Criteria:
- have a guardian or a forensic psychiatric arrangement
- comorbidity with the ICD-10 criteria of the diagnoses of dementia or mental retardation
- a large-scale substance abuse - if later on the abuse is under control inclusion in the trial will be possible
- a current home of supported housing - since the treatment as usual given to this group of patients is significant different from patients living independently
- a current involvement in a psycho-educational course - patients are eligible for participation in the trial after the psycho-educational course has ended if they meet the inclusion criteria at this point
- not given informed consent.
Sites / Locations
- Community Mental Health Center Ballerup and Community Mental Health Center Frederiksberg
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
No Intervention
IMR program
Treatment as usual
The program is organised into 11 curriculum topic areas: recovery strategies, practical facts about mental illness, the stress-vulnerability model, building social support, using medication effectively, drug and alcohol use, reducing relapses, healthy lifestyle, coping with stress, coping with problems and symptoms, and getting your needs met in the mental health system. In this Danish trial IMR will be implemented in group format with 10 patients assigned to each group and two IMR facilitators, and the IMR program will require nine months of weekly sessions to complete.
Patients randomised to the control group will get 'treatment as usual' only. This means individual adapted interdisciplinary treatment including medication, individual support, occupational therapy, psycho-education and group therapy.