Peer-Support Group for Psychosis

(VVV RCT Trial)

This trial aims to help veterans with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who experience psychosis improve their social lives and reduce distress. It tests two peer-led support programs: Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV), specifically designed for psychosis, and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), a broader recovery program. The trial will compare how these programs affect feelings of distress, social belonging, and functioning. Veterans who have experienced weekly auditory hallucinations (hearing things that aren't there) for at least six months and can participate in group discussions might be a good fit.

As an unphased trial, this study offers veterans a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance support programs for others facing similar challenges.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your healthcare provider.

Research has shown that the Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV) support groups are generally safe for participants. This program, designed for veterans with serious mental illness, helps reduce stress related to psychosis without major safety concerns. Participants typically join these group sessions without experiencing negative effects.

For Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), studies have indicated that it is a well-tolerated program. This peer-led approach helps people manage their recovery and improve their quality of life. Evidence suggests that participants rarely report negative side effects.

Researchers are excited about the Peer-Support Group for Psychosis trial because it explores innovative, non-medication-based interventions that target serious mental illness. Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV) is distinctive because it adapts the Hearing Voices approach, focusing on normalizing and creating community around psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, which is not a focus of typical treatments like antipsychotic medications. Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP), on the other hand, is a structured self-management program led by peers that aims to improve quality of life and subjective recovery, although it's not tailored specifically for psychosis. Both approaches prioritize peer support and personal empowerment, offering new pathways for recovery beyond traditional medical treatments.

This trial will compare two peer-support interventions for Veterans with serious mental illness. Research has shown that the Veteran Voices and Visions (VVV) group, one of the interventions in this trial, can help reduce the distress Veterans experience from psychosis. This support helps Veterans feel more socially connected by normalizing symptoms like hearing voices. Previous findings suggest that VVV can also increase feelings of belonging, helping Veterans with serious mental illness feel less alone.