Effectiveness of the Screen, Test, Immunize, Reduce Risk, and Refer (STIRR) Intervention for People With Both a Mental and Substance Abuse Disorder
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00316303 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: April 20, 2006
Results First Posted
: May 22, 2013
Last Update Posted
: May 22, 2013
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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HIV Infections Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Disorder Depression Substance Abuse | Drug: Twinrix Behavioral: Enhanced treatment as usual | Phase 2 |
People who have been dually diagnosed with a severe mental illness and a substance abuse disorder are at an elevated risk for contracting blood-borne infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Prevention, early detection, and treatment for these diseases are essential for this particular population. Research has shown that rates of HCV infection are 11 times higher in people with mental illnesses than in the general population. People with mental health illnesses and those with dual diagnoses should receive basic CDC-recommended services for risk screening and testing of HIV infection, AIDS, and hepatitis. They should also receive hepatitis A and B immunizations, risk reduction counseling, and referrals for medical care. However, most people with severe mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders do not receive the care they need. The STIRR (screen, test, immunize, reduce risk, and refer) intervention will provide necessary prevention and treatment services to an at-risk, under-treated population. This study will determine the effectiveness of the STIRR intervention in increasing rates of testing, immunization, referral, and treatment for blood-borne diseases, such as hepatitis and HIV, in people with both a mental disorder and a substance abuse disorder.
Participants in this open-label study will be recruited from two publicly funded community mental health agencies in Baltimore, MD. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either enhanced treatment as usual or the STIRR intervention. Individuals assigned to STIRR will attend three sessions over the course of 6 months. The first session will involve education, personalized risk assessment, risk reduction counseling, pre-test counseling, blood testing, and an initial immunization with Twinrix for hepatitis A and B viruses (HAV and HBV). At the second session, participants will receive their test results, as well as post-test and risk reduction counseling, medical referral and linkage, if necessary, and a second Twinrix immunization. The third session will include an assessment of risk level and reinforcement of risk reduction, a final immunization, an assessment of progress on treatment and linkage, and behavior reinforcement or modification. Enhanced treatment as usual will entail comprehensive mental health services provided at each study site, education about blood-borne diseases, and referral to a local community health provider for blood testing, HAV and HBV immunizations, and any necessary treatments. All participants will be assessed for treatment outcomes at Month 6. A 12-month post-intervention follow-up will be carried out with the infected participants in the STIRR group to evaluate quality of care.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 236 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | The STIRR Intervention for Dually Diagnosed Clients |
Study Start Date : | February 2006 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | April 2009 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | August 2012 |
Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: 1
Participants will receive screening, testing, immunization, and risk reduction. Screening and testing will take place at study entry, immunization will occur at entry and after 3 and 6 months, and risk reduction will take place at study entry and after 3 and 6 months.
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Drug: Twinrix
This vaccine will be given in three parts: at entry and after 3 and 6 months.
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Placebo Comparator: 2
Participants will receive enhanced treatment as usual.
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Behavioral: Enhanced treatment as usual
Participants will receive comprehensive mental health services provided at each study site, education about blood-borne diseases, and referral to a local community health provider for blood testing, HAV and HBV immunizations, and any necessary treatments.
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- Change in Immunization Status [ Time Frame: Measured at 6 Months relative to Baseline ]Of the participants that were not immunized at baseline, the number of participants who were immunized for Hepatitis A and B at 6 months.
- Tested for Hepatitis C [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]Participant self-report of being tested for hepatitis C
- Tested for Hepatitis B [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]Participant self-report of being tested for hepatitis B
- Tested for HIV [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]Participant self-report of being tested for HIV
- Referral for Medical Care [ Time Frame: 6 Months ]For participants infected with hepatitis C, their self-report of being referred for medical care.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 65 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depression
- Diagnosis of a substance use disorder
- Enrolled in clinical care at Creative Alternatives or People Encouraging People for at least 3 months
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00316303
United States, Maryland | |
University of Maryland, Department of Psychaitry | |
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201 |
Principal Investigator: | Stanley D. Rosenberg, PhD | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center | |
Principal Investigator: | Lisa Dixon, MD | University of Maryland |
Publications:
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00316303 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
R01MH072556 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract ) DAHBR 9A-ASNM |
First Posted: | April 20, 2006 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | May 22, 2013 |
Last Update Posted: | May 22, 2013 |
Last Verified: | April 2013 |
Keywords provided by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center:
Serious Mental Illness Dual Diagnosis Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Disease Schizophrenia HIV Infections Bipolar Disorder Psychotic Disorders Substance-Related Disorders Pathologic Processes Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders Mental Disorders Lentivirus Infections |
Retroviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Virus Diseases Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Sexually Transmitted Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Immune System Diseases Bipolar and Related Disorders Chemically-Induced Disorders |