RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 HORYZONS trial: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a moderated online social therapy to maintain treatment effects from first-episode psychosis services
JF BMJ Open
JO BMJ Open
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e024104
DO 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024104
VO 9
IS 2
A1 Mario Alvarez-Jimenez
A1 Sarah Bendall
A1 Peter Koval
A1 Simon Rice
A1 Daniela Cagliarini
A1 Lee Valentine
A1 Simon D’Alfonso
A1 Christopher Miles
A1 Penni Russon
A1 David L Penn
A1 Jess Phillips
A1 Reeva Lederman
A1 Greg Wadley
A1 Eoin Killackey
A1 Olga Santesteban-Echarri
A1 Cathrine Mihalopoulos
A1 Helen Herrman
A1 Cesar Gonzalez-Blanch
A1 Tamsyn Gilbertson
A1 Shalini Lal
A1 Richard Chambers
A1 Rothanthi Daglas-Georgiou
A1 Cristina Latorre
A1 Sue M Cotton
A1 Patrick D McGorry
A1 John F Gleeson
YR 2019
UL http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/2/e024104.abstract
AB Introduction Specialised early intervention services have demonstrated improved outcomes in first-episode psychosis (FEP); however, clinical gains may not be sustained after patients are transferred to regular care. Moreover, many patients with FEP remain socially isolated with poor functional outcomes. To address this, our multidisciplinary team has developed a moderated online social media therapy (HORYZONS) designed to enhance social functioning and maintain clinical gains from specialist FEP services. HORYZONS merges: (1) peer-to-peer social networking; (2) tailored therapeutic interventions; (3) expert and peer-moderation; and (4) new models of psychological therapy (strengths and mindfulness-based interventions) targeting social functioning. The aim of this trial is to determine whether following 2 years of specialised support and 18-month online social media-based intervention (HORYZONS) is superior to 18 months of regular care.Methods and analysis This study is a single-blind randomised controlled trial. The treatment conditions include HORYZONS plus treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU alone. We recruited 170 young people with FEP, aged 16–27 years, in clinical remission and nearing discharge from Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centre, Melbourne. The study includes four assessment time points, namely, baseline, 6-month, 12-month and 18-month follow-up. The study is due for completion in July 2018 and included a 40-month recruitment period and an 18-month treatment phase. The primary outcome is social functioning at 18 months. Secondary outcome measures include rate of hospital admissions, cost-effectiveness, vocational status, depression, social support, loneliness, self-esteem, self-efficacy, anxiety, psychological well-being, satisfaction with life, quality of life, positive and negative psychotic symptoms and substance use. Social functioning will be also assessed in real time through our Smartphone Ecological Momentary Assessment tool.Ethics and dissemination Melbourne Health Human Research Ethics Committee (2013.146) provided ethics approval for this study. Findings will be made available through scientific journals and forums and to the public via social media and the Orygen website.Trial registration number ACTRN12614000009617; Pre-results.