Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health
Published on: December 1, 2023
A 60-Week Prospective RCT of a Self-Management Intervention for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness and Diabetes
Martha Sajatovic1, Douglas D Gunzler1, Stephanie W Kanuch1
1Dr. Sajatovic, Ms. Cassidy, and Dr. Blixen are with the Department of Psychiatry, Dr. Tatsuoka is with the Department of Neurology, and Dr. Gunzler, Dr. McCormick, Dr. Perzynski, Dr. Einstadter, Dr. Thomas, Dr. Seeholzer, and Dr. Dawson are with the Center for Health Care Research and Policy, all at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland. Dr. Gunzler, Dr. McCormick, Dr. Perzynski, Dr. Einstadter, Dr. Thomas, and Dr. Dawson are also with MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, where Ms. Kanuch, Ms. Lawless, and Ms. Martin are affiliated. Dr. Falck-Ytter is with the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, Cleveland. Dr. McKibben is with the Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie. Dr. Bauer is with the Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, and with the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston.
Objectives:
A 60-week randomized controlled trial assessed the effects of targeted training in illness management (TTIM) versus treatment as usual among 200 individuals with serious mental illness and diabetes mellitus.
Methods:
The study used the Clinical Global Impression (CGI), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to assess psychiatric symptoms; the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) to assess functioning; the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to assess general health, and serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to assess diabetes control.
Results:
Participants' mean±SD age was 52.7±9.5 years, and 54% were African American. They were diagnosed as having depression (48%), schizophrenia (25%), and bipolar disorder (28%). At baseline, depression severity was substantial but psychosis severity was modest. At 60 weeks, there was greater improvement among TTIM participants versus treatment-as-usual recipients on the CGI (p<.001), the MADRS (p=.016), and the GAF (p=.003). Diabetes knowledge was significantly improved among TTIM participants but not in the treatment-as-usual group. In post hoc analyses among participants whose HbA1c levels at baseline met recommendations set by the American Diabetes Association for persons with high comorbidity (53%), TTIM participants had minimal change in HbA1c over the 60-week follow-up, whereas HbA1c levels worsened in the treatment-as-usual group.
Conclusions:
TTIM was associated with improved psychiatric symptoms, functioning, and diabetes knowledge compared with treatment as usual. Among participants with better diabetes control at baseline, TTIM participants had better diabetes control at 60 weeks compared with recipients of treatment as usual.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
01:30Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...