MI-CBTech: A Mobile Intervention for Community Integration in Homeless-Experienced Veterans With SMI

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Nov 13, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The MI-CBTech trial is looking to help veterans who have serious mental health challenges and have experienced homelessness. The study tests a new program that combines two proven treatment methods—Motivational Interviewing (which helps people find their own reasons to change) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (which teaches coping skills and changes negative thought patterns). This program will be delivered through a mix of in-person meetings and remote support via mobile phones. The aim is to see if this approach can help veterans better integrate into their communities.

To participate, veterans need to be between 18-65 years old, living in a specific VA mental health program, and have been diagnosed with certain mental health conditions. They also need to have a history of homelessness and be stable enough to take part in the study. Participants will be randomly placed into either the MI-CBTech program or a control group that receives mindfulness training. If you or someone you know fits these criteria, this trial could be an important opportunity to receive support and improve community connections.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Veterans currently residing at the VA Greater Los Angeles Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (Domiciliary)
• • age 18-65 years
• • diagnosis of non-affective or affective psychotic illness as confirmed by chart review
• • history of homelessness
• • sufficiently fluent in English to consent, understand procedures, and complete assessments and intervention
• • medically and clinically stable (i.e. able to participate in and complete assessments and intervention).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • history of clinically significant neurological disorder determined by medical history (e.g., epilepsy)
• • history of serious head injury (i.e., loss of consciousness \> 1 hr, neuropsychological sequelae, cognitive rehabilitation post head injury)
• • evidence of IQ \< 70 or developmental disability
• • moderate or severe substance use disorder in the past month based on chart review