A Remote Life Balance Training Program for People With Schizophrenia

NCT07131137 | Enrolling By Invitation

• 1 other identifier: AtlasU
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

People living with schizophrenia often experience significant disruptions to their ability to maintain a balanced lifestyle and perform daily activities. These disruptions can hinder their ability to participate successfully in community life. In response to these challenges, a pilot study was planned to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of a telerehabilitation-based occupational therapy program aimed at promoting life balance and functional skills. The eight-week intervention is delivered remotely via videoconferencing and incorporates personalized goal setting, activity planning, skills training, and problem-solving strategies tailored to each participant. Clients diagnosed with schizophrenia who could engage in virtual sessions were invited to voluntarily participate, and pre- and post-intervention assessments were planned to measure outcomes related to instrumental activities of daily living and perceived life balance. This study aims to generate preliminary data on whether a remote, therapist-guided approach can positively impact daily functioning and quality of life. This information will guide the development of larger-scale trials in the future.

Conditions

Schizophenia Disorder

Keywords

schizophrenia; telerehabilitation; life balance; remote care; intervention protocol

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Life Balance

  Life Balance Inventory (LBI): The LBI is a self-report instrument that evaluates the congruence between the time an individual spends on 53 daily activities and the time they would prefer to spend. The assessment is comprised of two steps. First, individuals indicate whether they engage in each activity. Second, they rate their satisfaction with time spent over the past month on a 3-point scale ranging from 1 (very unbalanced) to 3 (very balanced). The LBI score, ranging from 1.00 to 3.00, is a quantitative metric that quantifies life balance. Higher scores indicate higher levels of life balance. Furthermore, four subscale scores are derived from 51 items: The scale comprises six items in the domain of health, 20 items in the domain of challenge/interest, 15 items in the domain of identity, and 10 items in the domain of relationships. The LBI demonstrates excellent internal consistency in the general population (Cronbach's α = 0.97)

  8 weeks

• Instrumental Activities of Daily Living

  Lawton-Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL): The Lawton-Brody IADL Scale is a widely used observational tool developed to assess an individual's functional competence in performing eight instrumental activities necessary for independent living. These activities include the use of the telephone, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, medication management, and financial management. Each item is evaluated using a 3-point scale, with 1 indicating "cannot perform," 2 indicating "needs assistance," and 3 indicating "independent." The total score ranges from 8 to 24. Scores on this scale range from 8 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater independence. The scale is commonly used to make classifications, with scores of 8-10 indicating dependence, 11-16 indicating semi-dependence, and 17-24 indicating independence. The original version exhibited adequate internal consistency, as evidenced by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.85 .

  8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: The Life Balance Training Intervention

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

The Life Balance Training Intervention BEHAVIORAL

The Life Balance Training intervention is administering as an individualized, therapist-guided program over a period of eight weeks, comprising two 45-minute sessions per week conducted via videoconferencing platforms. The program's objective was to enhance engagement in meaningful daily activities, promote a sense of life balance, and improve participation in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). Each session focused on fundamental components, including goal setting, skills training, activity planning, and problem solving. Caregiver involvement is encouraging when appropriate to support the generalization of skills to the home environment. The sessions commenced with a collaborative goal-setting process, centred on participants' desired modifications to their daily routines and occupational balance. The curriculum encompassed a range of pertinent subjects, including meal preparation, financial management, and time management.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• a clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5 criteria,
• access to an Internet-enabled electronic communication device,
• a stable Internet connection.

You may not qualify if:

• significant communication difficulties,
• comorbid chronic neurological or psychiatric conditions,
• inability to access communication materials and the Internet.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bezmialem Vakif University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Community-based psychiatric services

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 10, 2025
• First Posted: August 20, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 1, 2025
• Study Completion: December 1, 2025
• Last Updated: August 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)