A Preventive Behavioral Intervention for Young Adults With Psychotic Experiences

A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Preventive Behavioral Intervention for Young Adults With Psychotic Experiences

This is a randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of Resilience Training in college students with elevated transdiagnostic risk for developing a serious mental illness.

This is a definitive, randomized controlled trial that will measure the efficacy of Resilience Training, a four-session group-based behavioral intervention conducted in transdiagnostically at-risk young adults who have psychotic experiences. The primary goal is to determine whether Resilience Training is superior to a time-matched active control condition, Life Skills Training, in reducing transdiagnostic symptoms of psychopathology, such as psychotic experiences, and improving long-term psychiatric (preventing the onset of psychiatric diagnoses) and functional (improving academic performance and retention in college) outcomes in this at-risk population. In addition, a proposed model of the mechanisms of action of RT, involving reducing emotion reactivity and changes in hippocampal function and connectivity, will be assessed.

Inclusion criteria:

1. 18-30 years old
2. Enrolled as a first or second year student (i.e., freshman or sophomore) in an undergraduate program at the college or university where the intervention takes place
3. Students who endorse some psychotic experiences (Peter's et al. Delusion Inventory (PDI) score > 3)

Exclusion criteria:

1. Inability to provide informed consent
2. Not proficient in English
3. Current self-reported Diagnostic Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) diagnosis with active symptoms (such as active psychotic symptoms, current suicidality, serious active alcohol or substance use, marked deterioration in functioning over the prior month) determined by clinical interview with participant, or self-report of a psychiatric diagnosis that necessitates close monitoring or individual therapy and/or inpatient or partial hospitalization
4. Current enrollment in psychological or behavioral health treatment.
5. Current use of psychotropic medications (other than stimulants) prescribed by a physician.
6. A diagnosis of a serious, chronic mental illness as determined by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)