Community Mental Health Journal[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Effect of Chime Based Group Psychoeducation on Personal Recovery in Individuals Diagnosed With Schizophrenia.
Şahin G, Sukut Ö
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41240240 · Publisher ↗
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a CHIME-based psychoeducational group intervention on personal recovery in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. A randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest...
This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a CHIME-based psychoeducational group intervention on personal recovery in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia. A randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design was conducted between January and July 2024. A total of 60 participants receiving services from a Community Mental Health Center and meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 29) or the control group (n = 30). The intervention group participated in a structured "CHIME-Based Psychoeducation Program" comprising seven weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 60 min. Outcome measures included the Subjective Recovery Assessment Scale (SRAS), Psychological Resilience Assessment Scale (PRAS), and Schizophrenia Hope Scale (SHS). Assessments were conducted at baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Both groups continued to receive standard community mental health services throughout the study. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, Friedman tests, and intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis for handling missing data. Accordingly, the CHIME-Based Group Psychoeducation Program can be considered an effective intervention to enhance personal recovery, psychological resilience, and hope. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier number is NCT06284096.
Evaluating the Predictive Validity of the Fordham Risk Screening Tool (FRST) for Violent Behavior during Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitalization.
Racine CW, Strout TD, Johnston DN … +3 more , Quigley KM, Wolfrum LA, Guido BJ
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41236710 · Publisher ↗
Prior research has shown the Fordham Risk Screening Tool (FRST) to be accurate in assessment of violence risk when compared to more comprehensive risk assessment instruments. However, a link between any violence risk scr...
Prior research has shown the Fordham Risk Screening Tool (FRST) to be accurate in assessment of violence risk when compared to more comprehensive risk assessment instruments. However, a link between any violence risk screening tool and actual markers of violent behavior is absent in the literature. This study, therefore, sought to determine whether the FRST could be used to accurately assess the likelihood of violence, and markers of violence, during an inpatient psychiatric admission. This retrospective health records survey examined data from a consecutive cohort of adults (N = 423) admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit from the emergency department (ED) from September 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023. Both electronic and manual abstraction strategies were used to evaluate FRST screening tool results collected in the ED and markers of violent behavior during subsequent inpatient hospitalization. When comparing the proportion of subjects who experienced a violent incident while hospitalized in the FRST positive and FRST negative groups, a significant difference was noted with a greater proportion of those with a positive FRST screening experiencing a violent event (33.0% vs. 8.1%, for the positive and negative screening groups, respectively, χ = 41.046, df = 1, p < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity were 33.0% (95% CI: 24.7%-42.5%) and 91.9% (95% CI: 88.1%-94.6%), respectively. The positive predictive value was 60.3% (95% CI: 47.2%-72.2%) and the negative predictive value was 78.6% (95% CI: 73.9%-82.7%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for the predictive ability of the FRST was 0.305 (standard error [SE] 0.038), 95% CI: 0.230-0.381). Overall, the FRST instrument showed mixed results as a screening tool to detect the potential of violent behavior in admitted psychiatric inpatient adults. While there was a significant difference in violent events between FRST positive and negative groups, metrics assessing predictive validity and reliability of the FRST were limited. Utilization of a screening tool such as the FRST should continue to be paired with additional efforts to evaluate inpatient risk of violent behavior.
Live Opera Performances on Veteran Recovery from Homelessness and Post Traumatic Stress: Post- Discussion Qualitative Analysis.
Skrine Jeffers K, Dzou T, Bilder RM … +3 more , Mango JD, Pila J, Wells K
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41231354 · Full text
There is limited research on the impact of art forms, including opera, on audience and cast engagement in understanding mental health needs and support for Veterans at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and h...
There is limited research on the impact of art forms, including opera, on audience and cast engagement in understanding mental health needs and support for Veterans at risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and homelessness. This qualitative study explores post-performance discussions from audience and cast members after live performances of an opera about Vietnam Veterans and family members, and their experiences of war-time trauma, housing instability, and receiving services to promote recovery and resilience. Audio-recorded and transcribed comments by Veterans (n=8), family members (n=9), providers (n=5) and cast (n=9) were analyzed using thematic analysis for key themes, with examples of quotes. Main themes included: 1) Struggling Post-military Service, including feeling misunderstood and self-isolation; 2) Finding Hope, through commitment and community; and 3) Healing through the Opera by sharing difficult societal issues, promoting empathy, and sharing resources, with lived experiences shared across themes by Veterans, family members, providers and cast/production team with a peer facilitator. The reflections they shared about their journey from trauma and homelessness through implementing strategies to obtain needed services, were fostered through live opera performances and peer-facilitated, post-discussions.
Obesity Associated Disease in People with Mental Disorders: the Role of Psychotropic Medication and BMI.
Kolind MEI, Beier CP, Nygaard NB … +2 more , Stenager E, Juhl CB
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41217585 · Full text
Obesity-associated diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia, are common in individuals with mental disorders. The relative contribution of mental disorders, psychotropic medication, and BMI...
Obesity-associated diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia, are common in individuals with mental disorders. The relative contribution of mental disorders, psychotropic medication, and BMI remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study, individuals aged 18-60 years with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² were referred to the University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, and screened for diabetes, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, blood lipid abnormalities, liver disease, and sleep apnea. Individuals with mental disorders were compared to those without using binomial logistic regression adjusted for BMI, age, sex, and use of psychotropic medication. We included 345 participants with and 317 without mental disorders, all with BMI ≥ 30 kg/m. Participants with mental disorders were younger (40.9 ± 10.9 vs. 44.2 ± 10.8 years) and had higher BMI (42.8 ± 7.9 vs. 40.9 ± 6.4 kg/m²). Adjusted analyses showed no increased odds of obesity-related disease except for blood lipid abnormalities and steatosis. BMI significantly influenced most models but not the association with blood lipid abnormalities. Apart from blood lipid abnormalities and steatosis, obesity-related diseases in individuals with mental disorders appears to be largely attributable to obesity. Weight management should be prioritized, with additional focus on blood lipid abnormalities.
The Experience of Participating in Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Program: Perspectives of Four Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Maguire P, Haracz K, Robson E … +6 more , Killey N, Finch B, Walton CJ, Sly K, Bennett T, Scaggiante N
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41205092 · Publisher ↗
This is the first study to specifically explore the experiences of people with BPD in an IPS employment program. Understanding the experiences of individuals with BPD can assist those delivering IPS employment programs t...
This is the first study to specifically explore the experiences of people with BPD in an IPS employment program. Understanding the experiences of individuals with BPD can assist those delivering IPS employment programs to ensure that they are effectively meeting the needs of this diagnostic group. To understand the experiences and perspectives of individuals who participated in a pilot Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program for people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with four people who had participated in the pilot program and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants were invited to provide feedback on draft themes, which informed the final analysis. Factors that shaped the participants' generally positive experiences of the program fell into three broad themes. 'Wanting to do it' came from having work-related goals, a perception that it was the right time and a sense of being in control. 'Somebody on your side' described participants' experience of relationship with their employment consultant being characterised by understanding, encouragement and flexibility. Finally, 'it's all in one place' centred on their experience of the integration of the mental health service and employment program as increasing trust, accessibility, and support. IPS was well accepted by participants in this study with findings highlighting factors that supported this acceptability. Further research investigating the perspectives and outcomes of IPS for individuals with BPD is suggested.
Food Insecurity, Neighborhood Disorder, and Homelessness among People with Serious Mental Illness.
Kleinman S, Barrenger S, Taylor B … +7 more , Shah K, Chinsky T, Battaglia A, Ahmed S, Agarwal S, Abd C, Bonfine N
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41201729 · Full text
The health effects of social conditions such as income, education, and employment have been demonstrated to be persistent and wide-reaching. In this study, we examine the effect of social determinants of health, those co...
The health effects of social conditions such as income, education, and employment have been demonstrated to be persistent and wide-reaching. In this study, we examine the effect of social determinants of health, those conditions in which people live, among individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) who are actively engaged with mental health services. Using a sample of 203 clients at a community mental health clinic, this study (1) explores the prevalence of three social determinants of health: food insecurity, homelessness, and neighborhood disorder, and (2) assesses their associations with five outcomes of health, including mental health (overall mental health and life satisfaction) and physical health (overall physical health, number of chronic health conditions, and perceived daily limits). Our findings demonstrated that food insecurity and neighborhood disorder were prevalent within our sample of people with SMI (64% and 93% respectively), while homelessness was not (7%). Furthermore, a series of OLS regressions showed food insecurity and neighborhood disorder to be associated with poor mental and physical health, while homelessness was not significantly associated with any outcomes. These findings suggest that individuals with SMI who are actively engaged in treatment have increased risk of food insecurity and poor neighborhood conditions, which in turn may negatively impact their overall health. We suggest that mental health service providers be aware of the influence of social conditions on their patients and that clinics may be uniquely positioned to identify and intervene for individuals at risk of experiences that may be detrimental to their recovery.
Barriers and Facilitators in the Implementation of Measurement-Based Care in Outpatient Behavioral Health in a Safety-Net Hospital.
Dean K, Youn SJ, Nakle M … +6 more , Heller S, Kramer J, Stone M, Wilens TE, Marques L, Yule AM
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41193892 · Publisher ↗
Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based practice that can improve the identification of co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders, as well as population differences in care in lower reso...
Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based practice that can improve the identification of co-occurring mental health conditions and substance use disorders, as well as population differences in care in lower resource settings, through ongoing monitoring of patient-reported symptoms. The current study examined, as reported by different stakeholders prior to implementation, barriers and facilitators of implementing screening tools to monitor mental health and substance use symptoms in the outpatient behavioral health setting at a safety-net hospital. A purposeful sampling approach was used to recruit stakeholders from two outpatient clinics (child, adult) to participate in individual interviews (clinic leadership) and stakeholder-specific focus groups (clinicians and administrative staff). De-identified transcripts were coded using a directed content analytic approach guided by constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A total of 14 clinicians, 6 clinic leaders, and 4 administrative staff participated in interviews and focus groups. Results indicate stakeholder agreement on specific implementation constructs (e.g., patient needs, networks and communication) and unique perspectives influenced by the stakeholders' day-to-day responsibilities. However, there were inconsistent responses regarding networks and communication across stakeholder groups. Clinicians only identified barriers, clinic leadership only identified facilitators, and administrative staff did not identify communication as a barrier or facilitator. Thus, when implementing MBC within a safety-net behavioral health clinic setting, cohesive communication may be perceived differently by clinicians, clinic leadership, and administrative staff and should be validated across staff roles.
"I Hope She'll Feel Happier To Be alive": A Qualitative Study of Hope among Family Members of Individuals with Mental Illness.
Jensen RAA, Ovesen JH, Eckardt JP … +1 more , Stenager E
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41191259 · Full text
INTRODUCTION: This study explores what family members of individuals with mental illness hope for, and how their hopes are shaped, sustained, or challenged through participation in a group-based psychoeducational interve...
INTRODUCTION: This study explores what family members of individuals with mental illness hope for, and how their hopes are shaped, sustained, or challenged through participation in a group-based psychoeducational intervention program for informal carers. Although hope is a key concept in recovery-oriented practice, little is known about the hopes of carers themselves, or how hope is supported through preventive interventions. METHOD: The study draws on qualitative data from a questionnaire completed by 36 family members of individuals with mental illness participating in a group-based psychoeducational intervention program. Of these participants, three were subsequently interviewed according to realist-informed principles. In both cases, data was analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Family members' hopes related to their loved one's recovery, well-being, and societal inclusion, but also to regaining everyday roles, relationships, and identities that had been disrupted by mental illness. Hope was expressed as both a personal and a relational process, situated within wider social and structural contexts. Stories shared within the group played a central role in hope processes, functioning as mirrors (recognizing one's experiences and feeling reflected in the words of others) and windows (seeing what one could become or might have been) that created perspective and a sense of shared humanity. However, some encounters were experienced as overwhelming or re-traumatizing. CONCLUSION: Hope among family members is multifaceted, encompassing personal, relational, and structural dimensions. The findings underscore the importance of programs that actively support carers in sustaining hope as part of the broader recovery context.
Providers' Perceptions of Trauma-Focused EBT/EBP Implementation Fidelity: Implementation Process and Individual Influences.
Gusler S, Sprang G, Eslinger J … +1 more , Whitt A
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41191258 · Publisher ↗
Implementation fidelity is the extent to which an intervention is delivered in the manner in which it was designed. Within randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), fidelity is often rigorously ensured through strategies out...
Implementation fidelity is the extent to which an intervention is delivered in the manner in which it was designed. Within randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), fidelity is often rigorously ensured through strategies out of reach for most organizations. This limitation may be of particular concern for trauma-focused evidence-based treatments/evidence-based practices (EBT/EBPs), as the needs of individuals and families seeking trauma-based treatment are often complex, with existing comorbidities that can complicate recovery. The present study used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to examine implementation process and individual characteristics, as well as interactions among these factors in impacting provider's perceptions of fidelity. Data came from 598 primarily child serving mental health providers, who completed an online survey regarding provider demographics, perceptions of personal effectiveness, work experiences such as secondary traumatic stress (STS) and compassion satisfaction, and organizational implementation strategies used for a trauma-focused EBT/EBP. Significant positive associations were found between perceptions of implementation fidelity and compassion satisfaction, implementation strategy use, and personal effectiveness. Further, STS was significantly negatively associated with implementation fidelity. Significant differences were found based on population served and use of consultation calls and in-person supervision. Within a regression model, a significant two-way interaction between STS and implementation strategy use was significant, along with a three-way interaction between STS, implementations strategy use, and personal effectiveness. This study advances our understanding of how fidelity is created, maintained and understood in implementation settings that provide EBT/EBPs to individuals exposed to trauma.
Challenges of Joint Crisis Plans with Migrant Patients: Focus Groups with Mental Health Professionals and Interpreters.
Weber O, Semlali I, Wenger V … +5 more , Ferrari P, Mota SF, Almeida SR, Brodard A, Dutray F
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41186805 · Full text
In mental health, joint crisis plans facilitate advance care planning between clinicians and patients who experience psychiatric crises. Little research focuses on advance care planning with migrants with mental health p...
In mental health, joint crisis plans facilitate advance care planning between clinicians and patients who experience psychiatric crises. Little research focuses on advance care planning with migrants with mental health problems. This study investigated clinician and interpreter perspectives on the use of joint crisis plans in intercultural and multilingual settings. Focus groups were conducted: two with mental health clinicians (6 participants per group) and two with interpreters (5 to 6 participants per group). The participants in the study identified several challenges associated with using joint crisis plans for patients with a migration background: Diverging ideas about mental health etiologies and roles in decision-making processes; patients' fears of undesirable interferences between joint crisis plans and administrative procedures for residence permits; language barriers; and the collaboration with interpreters. However, interpreters are also found to play a central role by fostering patients' trust in the clinicians and the joint crisis plan.
Implementation of a Family-Centered Care Model in Psychiatric Hospitals as a Means of Reducing Caregiver Anxiety: A Comparative Study.
Shor R, Feffer K, Guez J … +4 more , Nemetz B, Miodownik C, Gurman V, Shalev A
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41184708 · Full text
Caregivers of persons with mental illness experience stressors and anxiety during the psychiatric hospitalization of a family member. The implementation of a family-centered model could reduce these feelings, and therefo...
Caregivers of persons with mental illness experience stressors and anxiety during the psychiatric hospitalization of a family member. The implementation of a family-centered model could reduce these feelings, and therefore, such a model was developed in Israel. To examine whether the model's implementation makes a difference in the stress and anxiety experienced by caregivers, a comparative study was conducted in two psychiatric hospitals. Questionnaires were delivered twice to caregivers in an intervention group (n = 93) and a control group (n = 75). The anxiety level was lower in the intervention group than in the control group in the second delivery of the questionnaire. In addition, a lower level of anxiety was found in the intervention group in the second delivery of the questionnaire in comparison to the first. The findings, which can be attributed to the model's application, highlight the need for a paradigm shift to a family-centered model in psychiatric hospitals.
We Matter: Pilot Study on the Impact of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi-American (APIDA) Stories of Mental Illness to Address Stigma.
Tran JT, Bolton C, Ko V … +2 more , Matteo C, Kosyluk K
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41182491 · Full text
Asian Americans (AA) have experienced increased rates of serious mental illness over the past decade. Past research has identified perceived and personal mental illness stigma as significant barriers to seeking treatment...
Asian Americans (AA) have experienced increased rates of serious mental illness over the past decade. Past research has identified perceived and personal mental illness stigma as significant barriers to seeking treatment for mental health concerns, particularly in the Asian American community. One way to address stigma has been through narratives told from the perspective of community members of a stigmatized identity. Therefore, this study examines the impact of This Is My Brave: Stories from the Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American Community (TIMB: SAC; a narrative-based stigma reduction intervention) on audience members. Participants (N = 89; mean age = 27.62[SD = 9.82]) had a significant increase in intentions to seek care and a significant decrease in personal mental illness stigma, perceived mental illness stigma, and anti-Asian American stereotypes from pre-intervention to post-intervention. We did not find any significant differences between AA and non-AA individuals on any of the dependent measures (personal stigma, perceived stigma, anti-racism, anti-Asian attitudes, and intentions to seek care). This study has implications for TIMB: SAC as a stigma reduction intervention.
Preliminary Study of the Effectiveness of the GUIA Assertive Community Treatment Program for the Care of Young, Highly Complex Mental Health Patients.
Salavert J, Enfedaque A, Rodríguez MT … +2 more , Briz A, Morales N
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41174137 · Publisher ↗
This study presents a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the GUIA Team's flexible Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program implemented in Spain, designed for adolescents and young adults with complex menta...
This study presents a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the GUIA Team's flexible Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program implemented in Spain, designed for adolescents and young adults with complex mental health conditions. The program addresses fragmented care by coordinating multiple service sectors. Retrospective observational pre-post study with 42 participants aged 14-25 years, assessing treatment adherence, clinical symptoms, hospital service utilization and global functioning. Findings demonstrate a significant reduction in psychiatric emergency visits and involuntary hospitalizations, along with objective improvements in clinical symptomatology and overall functioning, particularly with longer intervention. Treatment adherence was high and outcomes were consistent across a heterogeneous sample, irrespective of primary diagnoses or demographic characteristics. These findings suggest that diagnostic categories alone are limited in predicting outcomes in complex cases, underscoring the importance of functional and recovery oriented models. The study supports the feasibility and clinical value of a flexible ACT model adapted for youth, emphasizing sustained, multidisciplinary and individualized interventions in the patient's natural environment.
School Based Mental Health: The Structure of the Partnership Matters.
Cipriano DJ, Paek S, Azen R
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41171521 · Publisher ↗
Our current mental health system is struggling to meet the needs of today's youth and school-based mental health is seen as an integral part of this equation. This involves partnerships between school districts and commu...
Our current mental health system is struggling to meet the needs of today's youth and school-based mental health is seen as an integral part of this equation. This involves partnerships between school districts and community-based mental health clinics. The structure of these partnerships can determine aspects of teaming and delineation of roles and responsibilities for both parties. The focus of the present study is to examine the impact of the structure of the partnership on programmatic outcomes. Particular aspects of the structure of the partnership such as type of contracted services agreed to by the mental health provider and resources brought to the agreement by the school including administrative support, office space and funding were investigated. We studied process and outcomes of 59 schools across Wisconsin which were receiving outside mental health services through Children's Wisconsin. The findings revealed that each aspect of the partnership enhanced detectability of emotional and behavioral problems in students, including historically hard to reach diagnoses, increased collaboration between the school team and the community mental health provider, and grew parental involvement in their child's care. The authors conclude that thoughtful planning of the structure of such public/private partnerships can have implications for the mental health care of children and may help align objectives between the education and mental health systems which already have a shared interest in certain indicators of childhood functioning.
Do Provider Characteristics and Perceptions Influence the Adoption and Implementation of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TSC) in Community Mental Health Centers?
Diaz M, Milner AE, Sarfan LD … +4 more , Agnew ER, Oliver SM, Bol K, Harvey AG
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41171520 · Full text
Understanding the factors that influence the adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is crucial for expanding access to high-quality treatments for serious mental illness (SMI). This study evaluate...
Understanding the factors that influence the adoption and implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is crucial for expanding access to high-quality treatments for serious mental illness (SMI). This study evaluated how provider characteristics and perceptions influence adoption and implementation outcomes of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TSC) in community mental health centers (CMHCs). CMHC providers (N = 124) were trained to deliver TSC to CMHC patients diagnosed with SMI (N = 395). Providers completed measures on demographic and professional characteristics. Additionally, assessments conducted after providers completed TSC training and delivered TSC to a patient measured provider perceptions of TSC (i.e., treatment fit, willingness and confidence) and adoption and implementation outcomes (i.e., referrals, sessions delivered, and treatment completion). Providers reported highly positive perceptions of TSC. Providers' education was associated with number of referrals and treatment completion. Additionally, provider perceptions of the TSC's appropriateness and feasibility at post-training predicted later perception of treatment fit. Overall, findings suggest providers perceive TSC to be well-suited for CMHCs, where provider characteristics are diverse, which bodes well for sustainment and scalability in community settings. Clinical Trial Registration: This study was preregistered on clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT04154631) on November 6, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04154631 .
Implementation of Community Participation Practices in Coordinated Specialty Care: Insights from a Qualitative Study.
Thomas EC, Shern D, Slanzi CM … +3 more , Surratt Z, Bertolami N, Salzer MS
Community Ment Health J · 2026 May · PMID 41166010 · Full text
Community participation is critical for health, particularly during young adulthood. Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs for young adults with early psychosis aim to promote community participation; however, resear...
Community participation is critical for health, particularly during young adulthood. Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs for young adults with early psychosis aim to promote community participation; however, research on practices beyond those focused on employment, education, and family relationships is limited. This qualitative study explored CSC programs' community participation practices across a broad range of areas and the factors influencing their implementation. Following a national survey, individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 CSC program leaders to examine ten specific practices. Recorded responses were transcribed and qualitatively analyzed using an integrated thematic analysis approach. Findings revealed that programs implemented a range of practices, including outreach to mainstream organizations, fostering mutual support among clients, facilitating independent community participation, and providing targeted support in spirituality/religion, intimate relationships, and civic engagement activities. Effective leadership, organizational culture, and staff factors (e.g., knowledge, skills, supportive attitudes and behaviors) emerged as key facilitators, while primary barriers included limited resources, staff challenges (e.g., lack of training), and environmental challenges (e.g., stigma, rural settings). Client-level factors, such as motivation and interference from symptoms, and the perceived effectiveness and acceptability of various practices, also impacted implementation. Recommendations include enhancing leadership buy-in, staff training, and creative resource use to overcome barriers and sustain community participation efforts. This study highlights variability across CSC programs and provides actionable strategies to strengthen community participation practices for young adults with early psychosis.
Mindset: Cognitive Remediation Intervention to Facilitate Education for Young Adults with a Psychotic Spectrum Disorder - A Pilot Feasibility Study with Patient Experiences.
van Rijsbergen GD, Otto LKM, Pijnenborg GHM … +3 more , Boonstra N, Korevaar L, Hofstra J
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41166009 · Publisher ↗
Young adults with psychotic-spectrum disorder have lower odds of attaining educational goals, partly due to cognitive problems. Cognitive remediation (CR) could improve cognitive- and potentially academic functioning. Th...
Young adults with psychotic-spectrum disorder have lower odds of attaining educational goals, partly due to cognitive problems. Cognitive remediation (CR) could improve cognitive- and potentially academic functioning. The current study examined an adapted CR-intervention 'Mindset' aimed at academic functioning for people with a psychotic-spectrum disorder in secondary education. Pilot-feasibility study of Mindset including the experience of nine participants with psychotic-spectrum disorder who received Mindset and six CR trainers. Post-CR interviews with participants and trainers were subjected to qualitative evaluation. Furthermore, preliminary results from pre- to post-CR changes on the College Self-Efficacy Inventory (CSEI), Cognitive Problems and Strategies Assessment (CPSA) and Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS) are presented using Reliable Change Index (RCI) and effect-sizes (Cohen's d). Qualitative evaluation showed that overall experience with Mindset was positive for participants and trainers. Mindset was not experienced as too difficult and aligned well with education. However, tailoring to the individual is required. Effect sizes in change from pre- to post-CR were small for school satisfaction (d = 0.25) and self-reported cognitive problems (d = 0.12), small to medium for increases in self-efficacy (d = 0.49) and large for increases in strategy use (d = 3.58). Feasibility of Mindset was good in terms of adaptation and expansion, implementation and limited efficacy. However, concerning acceptability, drop-out prior to Mindset was high and Mindset needs adjustment in terms of individual tailoring and language. Future studies have to attest to its efficacy.
Effectiveness of Psychosocial Interventions Among Family Caregivers of People with Schizophrenia in China: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Zou WY, Japar SB, Rajen Durai RA … +2 more , Liang GM, Ma QC
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41160335 · Publisher ↗
Family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia frequently experience both significant caregiving burdens and psychological challenges such as anxiety and depression, highlighting the critical need to explore effecti...
Family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia frequently experience both significant caregiving burdens and psychological challenges such as anxiety and depression, highlighting the critical need to explore effective psychosocial interventions. This study aims to systematically review the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in China. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four English databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, CENTRAL) and two Chinese databases (WANFANG, CNKI), including studies published from January 1, 2000, to August 1, 2025. The inclusion criteria focused on family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in China, with psychosocial interventions as the primary exposure, and caregiver-related outcomes (such as caregiver burden, anxiety, depression, etc.) as primary endpoints. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were considered. A total of 918 records were retrieved, and 11 RCTs were ultimately included in the review, 5 from mainland China and 6 from Hong Kong. The findings demonstrate that psychosocial interventions have a positive impact on alleviating caregiver burden, improving mental health, enhancing positive psychological states, increasing social support, and improving quality of life and life satisfaction. This review suggests that psychosocial interventions may offer potential benefits for family caregivers of individuals with schizophrenia in China. However, due to the limited quality of the available evidence, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further high-quality, standardized RCTs are needed to validate the efficacy of these interventions and assess their long-term stability.
Recovery Colleges or Something Different? The Development and Evaluation of a Reflection Tool for Recovery Colleges in the Netherlands.
van Wezel M, Muusse C, Boumans J … +2 more , van de Mheen D, Kroon H
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Feb · PMID 41160334 · Full text
Recovery Colleges (RCs) are increasingly implemented worldwide, with a fidelity measure recently developed in the United Kingdom (UK). However, RCs may vary based on their operating contexts. In the Netherlands, a key de...
Recovery Colleges (RCs) are increasingly implemented worldwide, with a fidelity measure recently developed in the United Kingdom (UK). However, RCs may vary based on their operating contexts. In the Netherlands, a key deviation is that RCs are often peer-run rather than co-produced with mental healthcare providers, as outlined in the fidelity measure. This study assessed the measure's suitability in the Dutch context, leading to the development of a reflection tool (Phase 1) which was subsequently evaluated (Phase 2). The development phase involved focus groups with peer facilitators and coordinators from 16 RCs (N = 29) to capture critical elements of Dutch RCs. The tool was piloted (N = 5) and evaluated more broadly (N = 24). The tool provided valuable insights, highlighting shared values among RCs internationally and conceptual differences between Dutch and UK models. The findings raised questions about the boundaries of fidelity in co-created contexts such as RCs.
The Relative Understanding of Stigma About Health (RUSH) Study: The Role of Controllability and Knowledge in Explaining Condition-Specific Variability.
Zell CS, Thorp SR, Thompson KJ
Community Ment Health J · 2026 Apr · PMID 41148538 · Full text
Members of the U.S. public report negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination towards individuals with a variety of health issues. The present study aimed to identify which health conditions and behaviors are mos...
Members of the U.S. public report negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination towards individuals with a variety of health issues. The present study aimed to identify which health conditions and behaviors are most stigmatized and shed light on the factors that drive variation in stigma. A large, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (N = 1,096) provided valid online survey responses to the Relative Understanding of Stigma about Health Index (RUSH-I), a novel instrument that assesses perceptions of controllability, knowledge, and perceptions of public stigma for 36 different conditions and behaviors. We hypothesized a positive relationship between controllability and stigma and an inverse relationship between knowledge and stigma. As hypothesized, stigma was substantially higher among conditions and behaviors that participants perceived as more controllable and about which they reported less knowledge. Controllability and knowledge accounted for over two-thirds of the variance in stigma across health issues. At the individual level, however, knowledge was positively related to stigma: Participants who reported more knowledge about a health condition or behavior tended to perceive greater stigma associated with it. Results showed that mental health conditions were generally more stigmatized than physical health conditions. Obesity was a notable exception, ranking as the most stigmatized health condition overall. These findings may help guide public health messaging, especially which conditions should be targets for stigma intervention. The findings also highlight important areas for further research, including elaborating the relationship between knowledge and stigma at both the individual and condition level.
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