Enhancing Veteran-Clinical Collaboration in VA PRRCs

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Mar 25, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is focused on improving the way Veterans with serious mental illnesses, like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, work together with their healthcare providers. Many Veterans face challenges that affect their daily lives, and while traditional treatments often aim to reduce symptoms, this study recognizes that Veterans want support in achieving personal goals and building meaningful skills. The trial will test a group program designed to help Veterans feel more comfortable and confident in collaborating with their treatment teams, ultimately leading to a more personalized and empowering healthcare experience.

To participate in the trial, Veterans must be receiving specific mental health services at VA clinics in San Diego, Los Angeles, or Albuquerque and must be at least 18 years old. They should have a serious mental illness that significantly impacts their daily life and be able to communicate in English. Participants will be asked to allow some of their mental health appointments to be recorded for the study. This research aims to find effective ways to improve treatment for Veterans, especially those from underrepresented groups, and may also benefit Veterans dealing with other ongoing health issues, like PTSD or chronic pain.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • be a Veteran currently receiving PRRC, MHICM and/or BHIP services at VA San Diego, Los Angeles, or Albuquerque (e.g., seen in the clinic in the past month or based on clinic criteria)
• • meet SAMHSA criteria of serious mental illness; i.e., "having (within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavior, or emotional disorder that causes serious functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities," based on chart review and clinician consultation if needed
• • Be age 18 or above
• • Be fluent and literate in English.
• • Agree to have a subset of VA mental health treatment appointments audiotaped
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • primary substance use or organic neurological disorder diagnosis determined by chart review
• • are determined by clinician and/or study staff to be at significant risk of exacerbation of symptoms, suicidal ideation, or other risk due to study participation
• • have a history and/or current risk of violence that clinicians and/or study staff determine to be too high risk to manage effectively in the study setting (e.g., poses a risk to Veterans or study staff).