Testing an e-supported Illness Management & Recovery Program for People with Severe Mental Illness

In the Netherlands a blended e-health application to the standard IMR-program is tested in a multi center early cluster randomized controlled trial. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the potential effectiveness, effect size, and the added value. A purposive sample of adult participants with SMI will be included when their clinician referred them to the IMR program. Participants in the care as usual group receive guideline-based treatment combined with the IMR-program. On top of this usual care participants in the intervention group receive e-IMR, which adds an e-health application to the standard IMR-program. Main study parameters/endpoints are: illness management, recovery, psychiatric symptoms severity, self-management, quality of life, and general health. The process of the IMR program will be evaluated on fidelity and feasibility in semi-structured interviews with participants and trainers.

A blended form of e-health contributes to the recovery process of consumers with SMI and match the consumers’ preference compared to an evidence-based
face-to-face intervention.

At baseline: NAW, computer literacy, IMS-scales, MHRM, BSI, PAM-13, MANSA, RAND-36, IMR fidelity scales;

At 6 months: IMR-scales, MHRM, BSI, PAM-13, MANSA, RAND-36;

At 12 months: IMS-scales, MHRM, BSI, PAM-13, MANSA, RAND-36, IMR fidelity scales, quaitative interviews on feasibilty, added value

The standard IMR program is provided in a series of weekly face-to-face sessions in which consumers with SMI develop personalized strategies for managing their mental illness and moving forward in their lives. There is a strong emphasis on helping consumers set and pursue personal goals and helping them put strategies into action in their everyday lives. On top of the IMR participants in the intervention group will get the opportunity to enter the e-IMR intervention, e-support for self-management and recovery.