Cornerstone program for transition-age youth with serious mental illness: study protocol for a randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health Services Research
• Youth Psychiatry
• Implementation Science

Background:

• Transition-age youth experience high rates of mental disorders and service gaps.
• Existing mental health interventions are limited for this demographic, with few effective long-term solutions.
• Serious mental health conditions in youth often persist into adulthood, necessitating targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To refine the Cornerstone intervention through a preliminary trial for transition-age youth with serious mental health conditions.
• To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of Cornerstone.
• To identify factors influencing the implementation of Cornerstone in real-world settings.

Main Methods:

• Hybrid study design combining qualitative methods and a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
• RCT comparing Cornerstone intervention to treatment as usual (TAU) in 60 participants.
• Data collection via surveys at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months, supplemented by medical record review.

Main Results:

• The study aims to examine whether Cornerstone improves outcomes compared to TAU.
• Analysis will include omnibus tests and t-tests to compare treatment conditions.
• Qualitative data will explore the intervention development and implementation process.

Conclusions:

• Cornerstone has the potential to address a critical service gap for transition-age youth with serious mental health conditions.
• The intervention is recovery-oriented and evidence-based, aligning with healthcare reform efforts.
• Findings will inform best practices for serving this vulnerable population.