Testing a Peer-Support Group for Veterans Who Hear Voices

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development

About this trial

Veterans with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who experience psychosis struggle with social integration- e.g., participation in work, housing, and citizenship-due to symptoms, stigma, and psychosocial functioning deficits. Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV) is a psychosocial, peer-led group intervention for Veterans with psychosis based that reduces distress related to psychosis and fosters a sense of belonging for Veterans living with psychosis. VVV destigmatizes psychosis; reframes symptoms; and introduces personalized, meaningful coping strategies enabling social interaction. The investigators will assess VVV's efficacy in a trial comparing recipients of VVV to another peer-led group, Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), on outcomes of distress from psychosis, sense of belonging, and social functioning while identifying contextual factors regarding implementation at two sites. The investigators hypothesize that proximal reduction in distress and increased sense of belonging results in improvements in social functioning.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Has been experiencing auditory hallucinations at least weekly within the past 6 months that are not exclusively due to substance use

English fluency sufficient for participating in groups

Able to provide consent

Disqualifiers

Psychosis exclusively due to substance use

Clinically significant seizure disorder, traumatic brain injury, dementia, developmental disorder/intellectual disability

Inability to provide informed consent for any reason, including due to acute psychosis, mania, or dementia, or active guardianship or durable power of attorney

Plan to transfer or terminate care in the next 3 months

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV)
  • Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)

Treatment groups

160 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups

Sponsors and collaborators

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead sponsor

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Collaborator