Altitudes: A Digital Intervention to Support Caregivers

Description

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the feasibility, accessibility, and potential clinical benefits of implementing a moderated online social media platform with therapeutic content, Altitudes, to parents, caregivers, and supporters of young people with psychosis across the state of North Carolina, including in Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs, Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP) programs, and other community services where caregivers or supporters of young persons experiencing psychosis receive care. The investigators will evaluate acceptability and feasibility with up to 50 caregivers and supporters over the course of 6 months. Acceptability and usability will be assessed with various acceptability measures with the Altitudes caregivers and supporters, and caregivers and supporters' engagement with the digital platform. The investigators will additionally evaluate the impact of the platform on caregiver and supporter's psychological status, well-being, and social support, as measured via self-report questionnaires.

Conditions

Care Burden, Care Giving Burden, Caregiver Burnout, Caregiver Stress, Caregiver Wellbeing, Support, Family

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the feasibility, accessibility, and potential clinical benefits of implementing a moderated online social media platform with therapeutic content, Altitudes, to parents, caregivers, and supporters of young people with psychosis across the state of North Carolina, including in Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs, Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP) programs, and other community services where caregivers or supporters of young persons experiencing psychosis receive care. The investigators will evaluate acceptability and feasibility with up to 50 caregivers and supporters over the course of 6 months. Acceptability and usability will be assessed with various acceptability measures with the Altitudes caregivers and supporters, and caregivers and supporters' engagement with the digital platform. The investigators will additionally evaluate the impact of the platform on caregiver and supporter's psychological status, well-being, and social support, as measured via self-report questionnaires.

Altitudes: A Blended Digital Health Intervention to Support Caregivers and Other Supporters of Young People With Psychosis

Altitudes: A Digital Intervention to Support Caregivers

Condition
Care Burden
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * The participants must be a parent, caregiver, or supporter of a young person who is currently receiving treatment from a CSC program for FEP or STEP clinic, on the waitlist to receive services from the CSC, who has recently graduated/discharged from a CSC program, or was referred to the study from the community (via Early Psychosis Interventions of North Carolina (EPI-NC) warm line, community psychiatrist/therapist, or inpatient/outpatient mental health services) where young person is experiencing psychosis but was not referred or enrolled in CSC
  • * Parent, caregiver, or supporter must be \> 18 years of age
  • * Participants recruited from NC CSC programs (i.e., OASIS, SHORE, Encompass, Eagle, AEGIS, WeCare2), STEP programs, and the community screening process
  • * Parent, caregiver, or supporter must have access to internet through a mobile phone, tablet, or computer
  • * Parent or caregiver is currently engaged in legal action against the loved one experiencing psychosis
  • * Parent or caregiver does not speak and understand English as the platform, its moderation, interviews, and measures are available only in English
  • * Parent, caregiver, or supporter is \<18 years of age

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 99 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill,

Kelsey R Ludwig, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Diana Perkins, MD, MPH, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Study Record Dates

2025-07-14