The Family VOICE Study

Summary

Family centered mental health treatment with children values and supports the role of parents in their child's recovery. However, medications are often the primary focus in community treatment, even in preschool age youth, with increasing use of antipsychotic medication for serious mood and behavior problems. Although medication may be necessary to address safety issues (such as severe aggression) it can cause serious side effects, such as obesity, and medication only does not follow recommended care for these types of problems. Psychosocial treatments are highly recommended (e.g. Programs that coach empower parents to manage their child's difficult behaviors) as part of comprehensive child treatment. Parent involvement in psychosocial treatment has clear benefits for their child's mental health, and unlike medication, the effects can last long after treatment is completed. However, problems related to access (e.g. long waiting lists) and use (e.g. parent mistrust mental health services) of services are common. Maryland, like other states, has developed a system to improve medication safety by reviewing health information about the child to determine if the treatment is appropriate. This reduces unnecessary medication treatment and ensures children have adequate health screening before starting any treatment. Those approved for medication have moderate-severe mental health problems, which supports their need for comprehensive (medication and psychosocial) treatment, instead of medication only. In this study, investigators partner with parents/family advocates, child-serving agencies, and health providers to develop a Family Navigator (FN) Service to link with this medication program. A FN is an individual who has cared for their own child with mental illness. The FN supports parents, provide information on psychosocial treatment options, and address barriers to using services. The goals of this program are to improve use of psychosocial services, and to improve parent empowerment, support, and satisfaction with their child's mental health treatment. The investigators also expect that the FN Service will improve the child's overall mental health and reduce the likelihood of a medication dose increase or another medication added during the initial treatment period. The FN Service is provided for parents of public insured children ages 3-15 years newly approved for antipsychotic medication treatment. The FN Services will be provided by phone, which supports families in both rural and urban settings. The investigators' long term goal is to develop a FN program that strongly supports Family-centered treatment of children and can be used to help families in other underserved areas beyond Maryland.

Conditions

• Autism
• Aggression
• Bipolar Disorder
• Psychotic Disorders

Interventions

OTHER

Family Navigator consultation

Telephone contact from the trained family navigator to the parent participant several times over the 90 day study time period. Components of the service include the following: (1)family engagement; (2) inquiry about psychosocial resource needs related to schools, outpatient child treatment, support programs, or mental health resources for other household family members; (3) discuss potential benefits/challenges of options and parent preferences/priorities for care; (4) assessment on perceived barriers to seeking resources; (5) collaborative problem solving to address barriers; (6) discuss options for follow up plan.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Maryland, Baltimore

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Gloria M Reeves, M.D. · University of Maryland, Baltimore

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

2 Years

Max Age

15 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-05-31

Primary Completion

2016-03-31

Completion

2016-03-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations