Social Prescribing and Relationship Cognitive Strategies (SPARCS)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · Oct 22, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

SPARCS is a small, early-stage study at two University of Michigan sites that is testing whether two brief, therapist-led programs can help adults who feel lonely and may have thoughts of suicide. Participants are randomly placed into one of three groups: Enhanced Usual Care (informational booklet and ongoing regular care), Brief Cognitive Therapy followed by Social Prescribing, or Social Prescribing followed by Brief Cognitive Therapy. Each intervention involves four short sessions (about 20 minutes each) over 3 months, usually delivered by video calls with a care manager, plus an introductory session and some homework. Some therapy sessions may be audio-recorded to help with training and quality control. The study aims to see if these approaches are acceptable and feasible to run as part of regular care.

Eligible participants are adults aged 18 and older who screen positive for social isolation in the past six months or for suicidal thoughts in the past year, and who also report loneliness on a short survey. They must be able to start or already be in Collaborative Care at the study sites, and not currently in other specialty mental health or substance use treatment, nor have significant cognitive problems or barriers like limited phone access. Participants will complete surveys at baseline, and again at about 3 and 6 months, to measure loneliness, mood, anxiety, social support, quality of life, and overall health, as well as how acceptable and feasible the programs are. The trial plans to enroll about 60 people, with results expected in 2026.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• * Screen positive for either or both of the following during routine clinic screening:
• • Social isolation in the past 6 months, according to the screening question "How often do you feel isolated from others?"
• • Suicidal ideation in the past 12 months, according to the 9th item of the Patient Health Questionnaire (HQ-9) (per protocol)
• • Loneliness, according to the 3-item version of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale (per protocol)
• • Are currently receiving or are able to initiate Collaborative Care Management at to participant's study site
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Currently receiving or have an active referral for specialty mental health or substance use disorder treatment outside of primary care
• • Neurocognitively impaired according to chart diagnosis, self-report on the Eligibility Screening Survey, or inability to answer comprehension check questions during the Informed Consent process (per protocol)
• • Unable to participate in the interventions and research assessments due to planned travel or limited phone access (e.g., does not own phone)
• • Terminally ill or receiving of palliative care with less than 6 months life expectancy