Peer support and skills training through an eating club for people with psychotic disorders: A feasibility study

Jelle Sjoerd Vogel; Marte Swart; Mike Slade; Jojanneke Bruins; Mark van der Gaag; Stynke Castelein

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.02.007

Peer support and skills training through an eating club for people with psychotic disorders: A feasibility study

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2019 Sep:64:80-86. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.02.007. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Authors

Jelle Sjoerd Vogel¹, Marte Swart², Mike Slade³, Jojanneke Bruins², Mark van der Gaag⁴, Stynke Castelein⁵

Affiliations

¹ Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Rob Giel Research Center, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: js.vogel@lentis.nl.
² Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Rob Giel Research Center, Groningen, the Netherlands.
³ University of Nottingham, School of Health Sciences, Nottingham, United Kingdom.
⁴ VU University Amsterdam, Department of Clinical Psychology, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; EMGO + Institute of Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, The Hague, the Netherlands.
⁵ Lentis Psychiatric Institute, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Rob Giel Research Center, Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Groningen, Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands.

PMID: 30875541
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.02.007

Abstract

Objective: The HospitalitY (HY) intervention is a novel recovery oriented intervention for people with psychotic disorders in which peer support and home-based skill training are combined in an eating club. A feasibility study was conducted to inform a subsequent randomised trial.

Methods: This study evaluated three eating clubs consisting of nine participants and three nurses. Semi-structured interviews and pre- and post-intervention measures (18 weeks) of personal recovery, quality of life and functioning were used to evaluate the intervention. Participants received individual skills training, guided by self-identified goals, while organising a dinner at their home. During each dinner, participants engaged in peer support, led by a nurse.

Results: In personal interviews participants reported positive effects on social support, loneliness, and self-esteem. Nurses reported that participants became more independent during the intervention. Participants were satisfied with the HY-intervention (attendance rate = 93%). All were able to organise a dinner for their peers with practical support from a nurse. Pre- and post -intervention measures did not show important improvements.

Limitations: Outcome measures were not sensitive to change, likely due to a short intervention period (5 months) and a limited number of participants (N = 9). Using Goal Attainment Scaling to evaluate personal goals turned out to be unfeasible.

Conclusions: The HY-intervention is feasible for participants with psychotic disorders. This study refined intervention and research design for the upcoming multicentre randomised controlled trial. We expect that the Experience Sampling Method will be more sensitive to changes in recovery outcomes than regular pre-post intervention measures.

Keywords: Feasibility study; Loneliness; MeSH); Mental health recovery; Nursing; Schizophrenia/rehabilitation; Social support.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Feasibility Studies
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations*
Loneliness
Male
Meals
Middle Aged
Peer Group*
Psychiatric Rehabilitation / methods*
Psychotic Disorders / rehabilitation*
Schizophrenia / rehabilitation*
Self Concept
Social Support*
Treatment Outcome