NCT02815813

Brief Summary

This is a four year project evaluating the effectiveness of a group-based lifestyle intervention (PeerFIT) supported by mobile health (mHealth) technology and social media compared to Basic Education in fitness and nutrition supported by a wearable Activity Tracking device (BEAT) in achieving clinically significant improvements in weight loss and cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults with serious mental illness (SMI).

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
150

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable schizophrenia

Timeline
Completed

Started Jul 2017

Longer than P75 for not_applicable schizophrenia

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

June 24, 2016

Completed
4 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

June 28, 2016

Completed
1 year until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

July 3, 2017

Completed
4.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

May 31, 2022

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 31, 2022

Completed
2.6 years until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

January 14, 2025

Completed
Last Updated

January 14, 2025

Status Verified

November 1, 2024

Enrollment Period

4.9 years

First QC Date

June 24, 2016

Results QC Date

August 6, 2024

Last Update Submit

January 10, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

Serious Mental IllnessYoung AdultsObesityCardiometabolic RiskPhysical ActivityWeight LossFitnessPeer SupportSmartphoneMobile TechnologymHealthSocial MediaFacebookLifestyle Intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Weight

    Participants' weight will be measured in pounds (lbs.) on a flat, even surface with the use of a high-quality, calibrated professional medical scale, with the participant wearing indoor clothing and no shoes.

    Baseline, 6 months, and 12 months

  • 6-minute Walk Test

    After a baseline blood pressure has been obtained, participants are asked to walk a measured distance as far as they are able in 6 minutes.

    Baseline, 6 months, and 12 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Self-efficacy for Exercise Behaviors Assessed Using the Self-efficacy for Exercise Behaviors (SEB) Scale

    Six months and 12 months

  • Social Provisions Scale (SPS)

    Six months and 12 months

  • Hemoglobin A1C

    Baseline, 6 months, and 12 months

Study Arms (2)

PeerFIT

EXPERIMENTAL

PeerFIT is a group-based lifestyle intervention enhanced by mobile health technology and social media designed to achieve clinically significant improvements in weight loss and cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults with serious mental illness.

Behavioral: PeerFIT

BEAT

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

BEAT involves basic education in fitness and nutrition supported by a wearable activity tracking device designed to achieve clinically significant improvements in weight loss and cardiorespiratory fitness in young adults with serious mental illness.

Behavioral: BEAT

Interventions

PeerFITBEHAVIORAL

The 12-month PeerFIT intervention consists of a 6-month intensive phase including: (a) once weekly 60-minute group weight management and exercise session led by a lifestyle coach; (b) once weekly one-hour physical activity session delivered in community settings; and (c) Facebook and mHealth technology (i.e., Fitbits, text messaging support) to increase motivation and facilitate self-monitoring and peer social support for health behavior change. Participants then transition to a 6-month lower intensity phase in which the 90-minute weight management sessions are discontinued. The groups will be conducted as open groups with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 18 participants at any given time.

PeerFIT
BEATBEHAVIORAL

Participants in BEAT will receive monthly individual lifestyle sessions delivered by a lifestyle coach including education, guidance, and support for self-monitoring behaviors (i.e., daily self-weighing and tracking daily steps) during the first six months of the study, plus text message reminders and encouragement for self-monitoring weight loss behaviors during the entire 12-month study period. Participants will receive materials with tips and strategies for healthy eating and increasing physical activity. They will also be given a wearable activity tracker (i.e., Fitbit Zip) to use with instructions for using the device. The first session with the lifestyle coach will be in person and thereafter by phone.

BEAT

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 35 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

  • Young adults ages 18 to 35
  • Chart diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression
  • Overweight or obese defined as BMI ≥25
  • Enrolled in treatment at the agency for at least 3 months prior to study recruitment
  • Have not started taking Clozapine or Olanzapine antipsychotic medications over the prior 2 months (dose changes are allowed)
  • Able and willing to give written informed consent to participate in the study or able to assent with guardian consent
  • Willingness to be randomized to either of the two conditions
  • Able and willing to attend the weekly 60-minute weight management session, participate in the weekly 1-hour physical activity sessions, and use the Facebook and mHealth (i.e., Fitbits and text messaging) components of the PeerFIT program

You may not qualify if:

  • Medical contraindication to weight loss (e.g., cancer, stroke, liver failure)
  • Medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, angina) that do not receive medical clearance by a primary care provider
  • Major surgery planned or likely to occur within the next 6 months
  • Prior or planned bariatric surgery
  • Use of prescription weight loss medication within the past 6 months
  • % or greater weight loss in 3 months prior to baseline
  • Currently enrolled in another weight reduction program
  • Pregnant or planning a pregnancy, or breastfeeding during study period
  • Cognitive impairment sufficient to interfere with participant's ability to provide informed consent, complete study questionnaires, or participate in a group intervention as indicated by a Mini Mental Status Examination score \<24
  • Active substance use determined to be incompatible with participation in the intervention identified by screening questionnaire that assesses for excessive use according to intake limits by gender
  • Use of anabolic steroids with the drug taken at least "most days of the week for the previous month"
  • Planning to leave agency or move out of geographic area within 12 months
  • People who are non-English speakers or who have major visual or hearing impairment will be excluded given the need to read the program materials and interact with technology.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Community Mental Health Affiliates

New Britain, Connecticut, 06052, United States

Location

Greater Nashua Mental Health Center

Nashua, New Hampshire, 03060, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

  • Aschbrenner KA, Naslund JA, Gorin AA, Mueser KT, Browne J, Wolfe RS, Xie H, Bartels SJ. Group Lifestyle Intervention With Mobile Health for Young Adults With Serious Mental Illness: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychiatr Serv. 2022 Feb 1;73(2):141-148. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.202100047. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

  • Aschbrenner KA, Naslund JA, Gorin AA, Mueser KT, Scherer EA, Viron M, Kinney A, Bartels SJ. Peer support and mobile health technology targeting obesity-related cardiovascular risk in young adults with serious mental illness: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2018 Nov;74:97-106. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2018.10.005. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

SchizophreniaPsychotic DisordersBipolar DisorderDepressive Disorder, MajorOverweightObesityMotor ActivityWeight Loss

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic DisordersMental DisordersBipolar and Related DisordersMood DisordersDepressive DisorderOvernutritionNutrition DisordersNutritional and Metabolic DiseasesBody WeightSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsBehaviorBody Weight Changes

Results Point of Contact

Title
Dr. Kelly Aschbrenner
Organization
Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Study Officials

  • Kelly A Aschbrenner, PhD

    Dartmouth-Hitchcock and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
Yes
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Senior Scientist

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

June 24, 2016

First Posted

June 28, 2016

Study Start

July 3, 2017

Primary Completion

May 31, 2022

Study Completion

May 31, 2022

Last Updated

January 14, 2025

Results First Posted

January 14, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

The proposed project involves human subject data, and all data collected on subjects (both positive and negative) will be submitted to the National Database for Clinical Trials Related to Mental Illness (NDCT). This will include individual level data from all subjects enrolled in both the active intervention and control conditions. The NDCT is a secure data repository run by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that allows researchers to collect and share de-identified information with each other. This secure informatics platform facilitates scientific collaboration and data sharing, and enables effective communication of detailed research data, tools, and supporting documentation. The NDCT links data across research projects using Global Unique Identifiers (GUID) for each participant, and the NDCT Data Dictionary.

Locations