Boston University Charles River Campus
The goal of this pilot cluster randomized trial is to understand if adding a standardized cognitive self-management program, Thinking Skills for Work-Cognitive Self-Management Strategies (CSM) to Coordinated Specialty Care Supported Employment and Education (SEE) programs improves the work and school outcomes of young adults experiencing first episode psychosis. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does adding the CSM program to usual SEE services lead to improved work and school outcomes, such as ability to find a job or enroll in school, or ability to keep a job or stay in school? * Does adding the CSM program to usual SEE services improve cognition and cognitive self-efficacy? Researchers will recruit six research sites and these will be randomized to either treatment as usual, where they will offer regular SEE services, or the experimental groups, where they will offer regular SEE services plus the CSM program. Participants in both groups will be asked to complete a brief assessment at baseline, 6-months, 12-months, and 18-months. Participants in the experimental group will be asked to participate in the 12-session CSM program in addition to their regular SEE services.
The Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) programs in the EPINET-TX Network provide Supported Employment and Education (SEE) services for young adults between the ages of 15-32 experiencing first episode psychosis (FEP). In this pilot cluster randomized clinical trial (RCT), six CSC programs representing different geographical regions including the urban southwest (serving a majority Latino population), the urban central and southeast (serving majority African American population), and the rural north and northeast (serving a racially/ethnically mixed population) that are part of the EPINET-TX Netw…
Inclusion Criteria: 1. currently in their first 18 months of enrollment in the CSC program 2. at least 15 years of age 3. receiving SEE services but not employed or enrolled in school 4. have the desire to work or resume school. Exclusion Criteria: 1\) Young adults who are not fluent in english
CSM is a 12-session program that promotes the development of specific cognitive strategies to promote success in employment and education outcomes. This is a standardized, evidence-based intervention with adults with serious mental illness. Each session is facilitated by a trained cognitive specialist and lasts between 45- 60 minutes. Session topics include self-assessment of cognitive skills, recognizing strengths, challenging negative thoughts, attention and concentration, memory, organization, planning, and thinking ahead.
In this intervention, participants receive regular weekly Supported Education and Employment (SEE) services.