Building Resilience and Improving Symptoms: M3 Program Outcomes
Poster B132, Friday, October 21, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Lynne Shinto1, Andie Thompson1, Rachel Ross1, Craigan Usher1; 1Oregon Health & Science University
Purpose: The experience of youth with first-episode psychosis (FEP) varies widely. Yet there are some consistencies in the post-psychotic phase: a sedentary lifestyle, lack of motivation, difficulty making choices, and a struggle to give voice to one’s thoughts, feelings and desires. These can be compounded by the side-effects associated with antipsychotic medications. In order to help manage these experiences, we designed a multi-modal pilot program, M3: Meals, Mindfulness, and Moving Forward. The M3 program engaged youths (age 15-25 years) and their families in a 6-week training program incorporating nutrition education, hands-on cooking classes, mindfulness meditation practice, physical activities, and facilitated group sharing. The objectives of the M3 program were to increase resilience while building skills that positively influence health. Methods: The primary study objective was to assess program feasibility through participants’ completion rate. The study used a nonequivalent control group design. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected at baseline, at the program end (6 weeks), and 6 weeks’ post-program (12 weeks) for the intervention and control groups. Results: The program demonstrated promising results and met feasibility with an 88% participant completion rate. Baseline demographics from the intervention group (n=17): mean age 19 years [13-27 range], 12/17 female, 13/17 neuroleptic treatment. This group showed a significant improvement from baseline in resilience as measured by the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (n=7;p=0.03) and on positive and negative symptoms as measured by the QSANS/QSAPS (p=0.03). Conclusions: Completion of the control group and full data results will be available by August 2016.
Topic Area: Psychosocial Interventions