Wellness Self-Management

Veterans with schizophrenia, other serious mental illnesses (SMI), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are at elevated risk for co-occurring chronic medical conditions resulting in increased risk of disability, high health care spending, reduced quality of life and early mortality. Physical wellness is increasingly recognized as a key component of the VA's commitment to developing recovery-oriented and Veteran-centered mental health treatment. There is also growing recognition of the value of interventions that promote and improve patient self-management of chronic medical conditions. Building on the established efficacy of consumer facilitated medical illness self-management programming used in the general population and two recent adaptations for use with SMI adults in the public health sector (including the investigators' own evaluation of an intervention called Living Well), the investigators propose to complete a randomized controlled effectiveness trial of the Living Well intervention and simultaneously conduct a well specified process evaluation to optimize knowledge accrual regarding important factors that may improve future adoption, implementation and sustainability of the Living Well intervention in the VA system of care.

Background: Veterans with schizophrenia, other serious mental illnesses (SMI), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are at elevated risk for co-occurring chronic medical conditions resulting in increased risk of disability, high health care spending, reduced quality of life and early mortality. Physical wellness is increasingly recognized as a key component of the VA's commitment to developing recovery-oriented and Veteran-centered mental health treatment. There is also growing recognition of the value of interventions that promote and improve patient self-management of chronic medical conditions. Building on the established efficacy of consumer facilitated medical illness self-management programming used in the general population and two recent adaptations for use with SMI adults in the public health sector (including the investigators' own evaluation of an intervention called Living Well), the investigators propose to complete a randomized controlled effectiveness trial of the Living Well intervention and simultaneously conduct a well specified process evaluation to optimize knowledge accrual regarding important factors that may improve future adoption, implementation and sustainability of the Living Well intervention in the VA system of care. Aims: Primary AIM 1: Complete a randomized controlled effectiveness trial of the Living Well intervention with 242 Veterans with mental illness and at least one co-occurring chronic medical condition and evaluate the intervention's effects on functional and service related outcomes. The investigators hypothesize that those randomized to the Living Well intervention will, in comparison to those randomized to a medical illness education and support group, demonstrate improved general health functioning including physical and emotional functioning as well as reduced rates of medical emergency room visits for management of a chronic medical condition. The investigators will also evaluate intervention effects on more proximal attitudinal and behavioral outcomes and assess how these factors mediate improvement in the functional and services related outcomes. Primary AIM 2: Complete a well specified process evaluation based on the RE-AIM evaluation framework to better understand contextual factors that can improve the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance which together determine the potential public health impact of the Living Well intervention. Methods: A mix of temporally overlapping quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to maximize integration and synthesis of data streams across the two aims to optimize knowledge accrual. Impact: Despite the growing recognition that self-management strategies hold enormous promise for improving quality and outcomes of care for chronic medical illnesses, and the fact that self-management is gaining prominence as a mental health recovery oriented treatment focus, there are currently no evidence-based peer facilitated medical illness self-management interventions available for dissemination within the VA mental health system. The proposed study is designed to both generate evidence supporting the effectiveness of a peer co-facilitated intervention and to help speed throughput to public health impact by collecting important contextual information about factors that may improve future dissemination and implementation efforts.

This study will involve a clinical trial of Living Well (LW), a 12-session, peer co-led, group intervention designed to help veterans with co-occurring Serious Mental Illnesses and Chronic Medical Conditions learn techniques for better health management and ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Key topics that will be discussed are medication side effects, how symptoms of mental illness may affect veterans' ability to manage their medical conditions, effects of substance use on medical and mental health functioning, learning ways to eat healthier and exercise, and how to communicate more effectively with care providers. After completing the 12 weekly groups, participants will return to complete once monthly booster group sessions for the next three months.

We selected a comparison condition that would provide parallel focus (i.e. medical illness) but not include use of the core ingredients undergirding the Living Well intervention including behavioral action planning, problem solving, in-session and between session practice using specific disease self-management techniques and involvement of peer co-facilitators to enhance modeling and improve self-efficacy and activation. As with Living Well, the content of the intervention will have broad applicability across diverse chronic disease conditions. The comparison condition will be a once-weekly support and education group focusing on living with a chronic medical condition.

This study will involve a clinical trial of Living Well (LW), a 12-session, peer co-led, group intervention designed to help veterans with co-occurring Serious Mental Illnesses and Chronic Medical Conditions learn techniques for better health management and ways to live a healthier lifestyle. Key topics that will be discussed are medication side effects, how symptoms of mental illness may affect veterans' ability to manage their medical conditions, effects of substance use on medical and mental health functioning, learning ways to eat healthier and exercise, and how to communicate more effectively with care providers. There will be 3 booster sessions after the 12 sessions, once a month for 3 months.

The comparison condition will be a general Medical Illness Education and Support (MIES) group that will discuss common challenges experienced by those living with a wide range of chronic illnesses and behavioral and lifestyle management techniques that may help veterans to better handle chronic medical conditions that also meets for 12 weeks.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Possible subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being.The SF-12 (39), a widely used standardized instrument with strong psychometric properties, will be used to assess self-perceptions of general health functioning across multiple dimensions (including general, physical and emotional/psychiatric functioning). The SF-12 has shown good internal, consistency, stability, and concurrent validity in outpatients with serious mental illness.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Possible subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being. The SF-12 , a widely used standardized instrument with strong psychometric properties, will be used to assess self-perceptions of general health functioning across multiple dimensions (including general, physical and emotional/psychiatric functioning). The SF-12 has shown good internal, consistency, stability, and concurrent validity in outpatients with serious mental illness.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Possible subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being. The SF-12 , a widely used standardized instrument with strong psychometric properties, will be used to assess self-perceptions of general health functioning across multiple dimensions (including general, physical and emotional/psychiatric functioning). The SF-12 has shown good internal, consistency, stability, and concurrent validity in outpatients with serious mental illness.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have strong test-retest reliability and internal consistency as well. This subscale consists of 2 items with possible responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores from these 2 items may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency.

This 13-item questionnaire measures an individual's perceived ability to manage his or her illness and health behaviors and act as an effective patient. Responses range from Disagree Strongly (1) to Agree Strongly (4). Respondents must complete at least 10 of the 13 questions to obtain a reliable score. Scores may range from 0-100 with higher scores interpreted as greater ability to manage one's own illness. The measure has demonstrated reliability and validity.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The General Self-Management Behaviors Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores from these 2 items may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Making Better Use of Health Care Subscale consists of 4 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5).Combined scores from these 4 items may range from 0-20 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Behavioral and Cognitive Symptom Management Subscale consists of 6 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores from these 4 items may range from 0-30 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency or using the behavior indicating greater self-management.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Accessing Social Support Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores from these 2 items may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Physical Activity Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores from these 2 items may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Healthy Eating Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores from these 2 items may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicating greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Possible subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being.The SF-12 (39), a widely used standardized instrument with strong psychometric properties, will be used to assess self-perceptions of general health functioning across multiple dimensions (including general, physical and emotional/psychiatric functioning). The SF-12 has shown good internal, consistency, stability, and concurrent validity in outpatients with serious mental illness.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Possible subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being. The SF-12 , a widely used standardized instrument with strong psychometric properties, will be used to assess self-perceptions of general health functioning across multiple dimensions (including general, physical and emotional/psychiatric functioning). The SF-12 has shown good internal, consistency, stability, and concurrent validity in outpatients with serious mental illness.

12-item Short-Form Health Survey. Possible subscale scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being. The SF-12 , a widely used standardized instrument with strong psychometric properties, will be used to assess self-perceptions of general health functioning across multiple dimensions (including general, physical and emotional/psychiatric functioning). The SF-12 has shown good internal, consistency, stability, and concurrent validity in outpatients with serious mental illness.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have strong test-retest reliability and internal consistency as well. This subscale consists of 2 items with possible responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy.

This 13-item questionnaire measures an individual's perceived ability to manage his or her illness and health behaviors and act as an effective patient. Responses range from Disagree Strongly (1) to Agree Strongly (4). Respondents must complete at least 10 of the 13 questions to obtain a reliable score. Scores may range from 0-100 with higher scores interpreted as greater ability to manage one's own illness. The measure has demonstrated reliability and validity

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The General Self-Management Behaviors Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater frequency of the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Making Better Use of Health Care Subscale consists of 4 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Scores may range from 0-20 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater frequency of behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Behavioral and Cognitive Symptom Management Subscale consists of 6 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Scores may range from 0-30 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Accessing Social Support Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Physical Activity Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5). Combined scores may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management.

This questionnaire is based on the items used in the original CDSMP as part of that groups extensive evaluation of the curriculum. The original CDSMP measure has been shown to have adequate psychometric properties; the range of test-retest coefficients for the original illness management scales was .56 to .92, with internal-consistency coefficients ranging from .70 to .75. The Healthy Eating Subscale consists of 2 items with responses ranging from Never (0) to Always (5).Combined scores may range from 0-10 on this subscale, higher scores indicate greater frequency of using the behavior indicating greater self-management behavior.

This 4 item self-reported medication adherence scale was developed from a well validated 8-item scale with responses ranging from Never (0) to Very Often (4) to to better capture barriers surrounding adherence behavior. This new scale has demonstrated psychometric properties. Possible scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater adherence. The distribution was skewed so a square root transformation was applied before analysis.

Measured with a subscale of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control. Possible scores range from 0 to 36, with higher scores indicating greater internal locus of control. An 18 item questionnaire with responses ranging on a 6 point Likert scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree that asks about self-perceived control over one's health, illnesses, and ability to take an active role in one's health.

The MARS a 25-item self-report measure of recovery. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from not at all (1) to very much (5). The MARS has been shown to have good internal consistency (alpha=.95) and test-retest reliability (r = .868). Combined scores may range from 25-125, higher scores indicate greater self-reported recovery.

Possible scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater adherence. The distribution was skewed so a square root transformation was applied before analysis.

Measured with a subscale of the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control. Possible scores range from 0 to 36, with higher scores indicating greater internal locus of control. An 18 item questionnaire with responses ranging on a 6 point Likert scale from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree that asks about self-perceived control over one's health, illnesses, and ability to take an active role in one's health.

The MARS a 25-item self-report measure of recovery. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale of not at all (1) to very much (5). Combined scores may range from 25-125, higher scores indicate greater self-reported recovery. The MARS has been shown to have good internal consistency (alpha=.95) and test-retest reliability (r = .868)

Inclusion Criteria: a diagnosis of schizophrenia/ schizoaffective disorder bipolar disorder major depression with psychotic features post traumatic stress disorder or psychosis not otherwise specified (NOS) age between 18 and 80 chart documented presence of at least one of the following chronic medical conditions: a respiratory condition (e.g. asthma, COPD) diabetes arthritis cardiovascular condition (e.g. congestive heart failure, hypertension, etc.) receiving mental health services at a designated study site willing and able to provide consent to participate deemed clinically stable enough to participate in the study by a treatment provider Exclusion Criteria: Severe or profound mental retardation Because participants must be able to attend the intervention if assigned to either condition, we will also require potential participants to verify their availability during screening Participation in current ongoing study 'Reducing Internalized Stigma in People with Serious Mental Illness"

Muralidharan A, Peeples A, Lucksted A. Health Behavior Change Processes Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness Engaged in Illness Self-Management. Qual Health Res. 2021 May;31(6):1155-1168. doi: 10.1177/1049732321992049. Epub 2021 Feb 15.