Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the acceptability and
feasibility of implementing a moderated online social media platform with therapeutic
content, Altitudes, as a part of an adjunct services offered at first-episode psychosis
(FEP) clinics across North Carolina, also known as coordinated specialty care (CSC)
programs. Additionally, to further assess the secondary aims of impact on experiences,
wellbeing, and support from the platform, the investigators will recruit a control group
of caregivers and supporters from clinics that do not have access to or are piloting the
digital platform.
Participants: Thirty parent or caregiver and supporter participants from OASIS and SHORE
CSC clinics will be recruited for the Altitudes condition and 30 caregiver or supporter
participants from Eagle, Encompass, AEGIS, We2Care, OASIS, and SHORE clinics will be
recruited for the control condition.
Procedures (methods): All participants will be recruited over a 20-week to 28-week period
at from the North Carolina's first episode psychosis (FEP) clinics. The Altitudes
condition participants will be recruited from OASIS and SHORE, while the control
participants will be recruited from the Eagle, Encompass, AEGIS, and We2Care in addition
to OASIS and SHORE. Altitude participants will engaged with the digital platform, known
as Altitudes, for approximately 6 months. Site usage information as well as feedback
about their experience will be collected from these participants through the Altitudes
platform. Site usage information (e.g., number of posts/comments made on the site, the
number and types of 'Journeys' or 'Tracks' (psychoeducation and therapeutic content)
completed by participants, etc.) will be collected automatically through the Altitudes
platform. Before being given access to Altitudes, a research coordinator, family peer
support specialist, or moderator will provide instructions and guidance for using the
site (i.e., Altitudes onboarding). Experiences, wellbeing, and support measures will be
collected at baseline, mid-treatment (3 months) and post-treatment (6 months) for the
Altitudes participants. Additional feedback in the form of a qualitative interview will
be collected from the Altitudes participants at the end of six months intervention.
As Altitudes involves psychoeducational and therapeutic content, this platform is
considered an adjunct to the clinical care provided to caregivers and supporters by FEP
clinics. As such, Altitudes participants will not be compensated for their involvement in
the platform. Site usage information will be collected automatically through the
Altitudes site. However, Altitudes participants will be compensated for providing
feedback about their experience with Altitudes as well as for completing other
assessments.
Finally, Altitudes will be monitored at least once daily by trained family peer support
specialists, master's level clinicians, and/or graduate students with relevant
clinical/research experience with individuals experiencing psychosis and their caregivers
and supporters. Drs. David Penn and Kelsey Ludwig, trained clinical psychologists, will
lead weekly supervision calls to ensure appropriate care and support of Altitudes
participants involved in this project, to discuss case conceptualization and suggestions
for engaging individuals in the platform, as well as to monitor any potential safety
concerns.
The control participants will not engage with the Altitudes platform. They will be
recruited from the Eagle, Encompass, AEGIS, and We2Care clinics primarily with the option
to recruit from OASIS and SHORE as well from the family therapy and/or multi-family
groups. They will meet with research staff at three time points (baseline, 3 months, and
6 months) to complete a battery of measures that mirror the measures completed by the
Altitudes participant group. Control participants will be compensated for meeting with
research staff and completing the battery of measures.