Extrait

Background and study aims People with mental health problems are often vulnerable to loneliness, which affects their quality of life and can impede recovery. Loneliness can be defined as a negative experience arising due to the difference between someone’s desired and achieved quantity and/or quality of social relationships. Loneliness has been associated with many negative health outcomes in the general population such as shorter life expectancy. It also predicts the onset of anxiety and depression, and leads to worse outcomes for those who are anxious or depressed. In addition, people with mental health problems are often particularly vulnerable to loneliness. The aim of this study is to develop and test a programme of support to increase community connections and reduce loneliness for people with complex anxiety or depression. Who can participate? Adults who are using participating mental health services who are feeling lonely. What does the study involve? After agreeing to take part in the study, participants complete some questionnaires assessing their social relationships, quality of life and mental health. They are then randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group receive standard care from their clinical teams and are also offered a pack of written information about community resources and activities within their area. Those in the second group receive a programme of support from a ‘Community Navigator’. This involves 10 meetings with the Community Navigator over six months, to help people review their current relationships, activities and interests and make a plan with the aim of reducing loneliness. There is a budget of £100 per person available to help put these plans into action. Participants receiving support from a Community Navigator are also invited to attend up to three group meetings, which provide opportunities to meet other participants, discuss the programme and their progress, and share resources and experiences. After six months, all participants are asked to complete the same questionnaires as at the start. In-depth feedback is also collected through interviews with 20 of the participants receiving support from a Community Navigator, the Community Navigators themselves, and 10 other involved people. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Support from a Community Navigator may reduce people’s feelings of loneliness and improve quality of life and health. Reading through the written information about local resources and community activities may also be useful. Participants will be involved in a study which will help to find out more about what kind of support is helpful for people with anxiety or depression who are experiencing feelings of loneliness. It is possible that participants will not find receiving support from the Community Navigator or the written information about local resources helpful and this could be disappointing. Working to increase their community connections may be difficult for participants. They will remain under the care of NHS clinical services and receiving standard care throughout the programme, so expert help and support with any distress will be available. It is possible that people may be disappointed when their meetings with a Community Navigator end after 10 sessions. Where is the study run from? 1. Complex Depression, Anxiety and Trauma Service, St Pancras Hospital (UK) 2. Barnet Complex Care Team, Edgware Community Hospital (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? March 2016 to February 2018 Who is funding the study? National Institute for Health Research (UK) Who is the main contact? Dr Brynmor Lloyd-Evans [email protected]

Critère d'inclusion

• Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub-specialty: Study not assigned to a MH Clinical Studies Group; UKCRC code/ Disease: Mental Health/ Unspecified mental disorder

Liens

• isrctn