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SchizophreniaNCT04602741

Examining a Digital Health Approach for Advancing Schizophrenia Illness Self-management and Provider Engagement

A study testing A4i Intervention in people with Schizophrenia and Schizo Affective Disorder, run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 1 site in Canada.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The effective treatment of schizophrenia is very challenging due to a number of factors. These include issues such as poor engagement with treatment plans and care providers, limited contacts with providers due to under-resourced health services, and the challenges inherent to schizophrenia symptoms. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
A4i Intervention
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
91 participants
Where
1 siteCanada
Study dates
4 Jan 2021to 1 Jun 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Participants will be adults, 18 years of age or older, with a chart diagnosis of a DSM-5 schizophrenia spectrum illness confirmed by a structured diagnostic interview (SCID-5)40.
  • All participants will be engaged in outpatient psychiatric treatment.
  • Proficiency in English.
  • Own and use an Android or iOS smartphone.

Who cannot join

  • Lack of capacity with no identified substitute decision maker.
  • Intellectual disability.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Canada1 site
  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    Toronto, Ontario, M6R2C4

Other trials in Canada

About this study

The effective treatment of schizophrenia is very challenging due to a number of factors.

These include issues such as poor engagement with treatment plans and care providers, limited contacts with providers due to under-resourced health services, and the challenges inherent to schizophrenia symptoms. The outcomes of these problems include frequent, lengthy, and costly hospital readmissions, low quality of life, high levels of distress, and difficulties engaging in valued community roles. Digital Health technologies are a promising model to help address these problems. They are a low cost and accessible form of support and have not been substantively developed or studied for people with schizophrenia spectrum illnesses. In this study, the feasibility of one such technology that is in development will be tested: App4Independence (A4i). A4i provides customized coping prompts, peer-peer networking, and a portal that facilitates better provider engagement. This research will provide critical information in the development of this new technology to address a key problem in the field - how to enhance care in a resource-limited context where provider-patient contacts are brief, infrequent, and rely on in the moment recall and self-advocacy by patients. These findings will lay the groundwork for a larger program of research and software development that will (i) validate the technology across multiple sites and, (ii) catalyze engagement with healthcare systems and caregiver networks to scale-out access to this promising resource.

Read the detailed description

Problem Statement: Among schizophrenia-spectrum populations, adherence to treatment is poor, community-based supports are limited, and efforts to foster illness self-management have had limited success. These challenges contribute to frequent, lengthy, and costly hospital readmissions and poor functional outcomes. Digital health strategies, in turn, hold considerable promise in the effort to address these problems. Across healthcare domains, digital health is a rapidly growing area due to its potential reach, accessibility, low cost, and implications for the use of data to customize treatments and identify risk trajectories. Despite this promise and for reasons that are not entirely clear, the development and study of digital health strategies for more severe mental health conditions such as schizophrenia is much less developed than other domains of healthcare.

Objective: This feasibility trial will examine a digital health platform designed to enhance illness self-management and treatment engagement for individuals with schizophrenia.

Technology: The investigators and collaborators have developed and piloted a digital technology called App4Independence (A4i). This platform was designed to (i) help prevent social isolation through behavioral activation prompts and peer-peer strategy sharing, (ii) enhance coping with schizophrenia symptoms through functions that draw on evidence-based strategies (e.g., texted tips derived from cognitive and behavioral therapies) and provide a novel technology that assists with the identification of auditory hallucinations, (iii) enhance treatment adherence through scheduling, text and reminder functions, (iv) track level of wellness/risk and progress on personal goals through both active (self-ratings) and passive (sleep monitoring proxy) metrics, and (v) facilitate communications with care providers through a provider dashboard summarizing platform-collected data gathered between appointments.

Partners: This study builds on a partnership between the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (research capability, mental health service and associated expertise, access to patient populations) and MEMOTEXT, a health technology company with a track record of success in digital health approaches across multiple health conditions and care contexts.

Study Design: This single blind, randomized controlled trial examines the feasibility of A4i. Feasibility metrics include study recruitment and retention, rate of technology use, safety, and utility in clinical interactions. Other outcome metrics include symptomatology, treatment adherence, patient-provider alliance, and quality of life. In this trial, study participants will be randomized to either treatment or control conditions, with pre-post outcomes measured over a 6-month period.

Implications: This research will provide critical information for the development of this new technology in the larger effort to address a key problem in the schizophrenia field - how to leverage technology to enhance illness self-management and care engagement in resource-limited service contexts. These findings will lay the groundwork for larger trials assessing the impacts of A4i on hospital readmission and functioning - providing essential evidence for commercialization and expanded access to this tool. This work is at the forefront of international efforts to explore and validate digital health approaches for schizophrenia.

Being tested
A4i Intervention
Keywords
Digital Health, Mobile Health, Smartphone
Medical subject headings
Schizophrenia, Psychotic Disorders

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • A4i InterventionBehavioural

    Also called A4i

    6 months of the provision of A4i on the individual's own device.

Study groups in NCT04602741
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
A4i InterventionExperimentalApp4Independence (A4i) Experimental: A4i Intervention App4Independence (A4i) The study intervention is the digital health platform A4i. A4i operates on the individual's own phone with or without data. Specific A4i functionality includes: * Addressing social isolation and cognitive challenges through personalized prompts, scheduling of activities, and connections to a range of resources. * Fostering illness self-management through evidence-informed content. * A peer-peer engagement platform that facilitates strategy/tip sharing between users (anonymous and moderated). * Daily wellness and goal attainment check-ins. * An ambient sound detector with an oscilloscope-type indicator that assists individuals with auditory hallucinations separate hallucinations from real sounds. * Passively collected data on phone use as a proxy for sleep. * A provider dashboard. Both control and experimental condition participants will be receiving standard outpatient care (TAU).
Receives: Behavioral: A4i Intervention
Treatment As UsualNo interventionTreatment as usual participants will be recieving outpatient mental health care through the standard supports (most typically, case management and psychiatric support) that are available in a large, Canadian, urban centre.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Recruitment

    Number of individuals successfully recruited into the trial with a target of 91.

    Measured: Through recruitment process an average of 1 week during a 21 month recruitment period.

  2. Retention

    Number of participants retained in the study through to post-intervention evaluation. The target is retaining 85% of participants recruited.

    Measured: 6 months per participant in a 27 month period.

  3. App Interactions

    Number of interactions with the app will be collected including information on the combined time and frequency of use for each participant.

    Measured: Up to 6 months.

  4. Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events

    Safety/tolerability will be assessed through information gathered via all study-related interactions with significant safety concerns operationalized as one or more critical incidents occurring in which there is evidence of an association between the incident and App use.

    Measured: Up to 6 months.

  5. App Likes

    Total number of posts liked for each participant will be collected.

    Measured: Up to 6 months.

Secondary outcomes (11)
  1. BSI: Psychiatric Symptoms

    General symptomatology will be assessed using the 53-item, 5-point likert scale Brief Symptom Inventory. Range 0-212. Lower values are better.

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  2. BARS: Medication Adherence

    Medication adherence will be measured using the 4-item Brief Adherence Rating Scale with responses obtained by both providers and participants to assess medication adherence. There are two indicators, both are pre-post changes, "days not taken" and "days taken less", and both are not scored as a percentage.

    The change scores for taking medication less (days taken less) and medication not taken (days not taken) were calculated as the difference from their 6 month score minus their baseline score. An value of "better" was assigned when the change score is > 0, value of "no change" was assigned when the change score is = 0, and a value of "worse" value was assigned when the change score is < 0.

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  3. STAR-P: Patient Relationship With Clinician

    Provider-Patient Clinical Alliance will be assessed with Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship - Patient to measure patient perspective of provider-patient relationship. This 12-item measure employing a 5-point likert scale has been used extensively in studies of outpatient care for severe mental illness. This measure supports patient and provider versions. Higher values are better. Range 0-48.

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  4. QLS: Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale

    The Heinrichs-Carpenter Quality of Life Scale, has 21 items, is well validated for schizophrenia, and captures sense of purpose, motivation, emotional and social interaction, role functioning, and engagement in regular activities. Higher values are better. Range 0-126.

    Pre-post change scores were calculated by subtracting the pre-score from the post score (= post - pre).

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  5. PANSS: Schizophrenia Symptoms

    Schizophrenia-specific symptomatology will be assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Lower values are better. Range 30-210.

    Pre-post change scores were calculated by subtracting the pre-score from the post score (= post - pre).

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  6. GAIN-SS

    Global Appraisal of Individual Needs- Short Screener (GAIN-SS) - Instrument used for screening possible internalizing or externalizing psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, or crime and violence problems. Lower values are better. Range 0-20.

    Pre-post change scores were calculated by subtracting the pre-score from the post score (= post - pre).

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  7. MOS: Treatment Adherence - General

    The 5-item, 6-point likert scale Medical Outcomes Study general adherence scale to capture broader adherence to treatment recommendations (again triangulated with provider responses). Higher values are better. Range 5-26.

    Pre-post change scores were calculated by subtracting the pre-score from the post score (= post - pre).

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  8. Appointment Attendance

    The average rate of scheduled appointments attended through EMR audit at CAMH or provider report at non-CAMH sites. No show vs. attending rates for both arms do not add up to 100% since an additional measure of cancelled rates was measured in the RCT. However, this variable was excluded from analysis since in the client's medical records it is unclear whether the clinician or client cancelled the appointment.

    Measured: Baseline-6 months.

  9. STAR-C: Clinician Relationship With Patient

    Provider-Patient Clinical Alliance will be assessed with Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship - Patient to measure patient perspective of provider-patient relationship. This 12-item measure employing a 5-point likert scale has been used extensively in studies of outpatient care for severe mental illness. This measure supports patient and provider versions. Higher values are better. Range 0-48.

    Pre-post change scores were calculated by subtracting the pre-score from the post score (= post - pre).

    Measured: Baseline - 6 months

  10. SUH - Patients

    Service Use History measure to assess past month service use history. Number of visits due to physical health issues (in the past 6 months) included the sum of: family doctor, ER, walk-in clinic, and other services Number of visits due to mental health issues (in the past 6 months) included the sum of: sum of family doctor, outpatient, psychologist, social worker, community service There is no limit on the scale range since it is based on the number of visits to various services in the past 6 months.

    Measured: baseline - 6 months

  11. SUH - Clinicians

    Service Use History measure to assess past month service use history of patient participant.

    Number of visits due to physical health issues (in the past 6 months) included the sum of: family doctor, ER, walk-in clinic, and other services for the patient participant Number of visits due to mental health issues (in the past 6 months) included the sum of: sum of family doctor, outpatient, psychologist, social worker, community service for the patient participant There is no limit on the scale range since it is based on the number of visits to various services in the past 6 months.

    Measured: Baseline - 6 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted26 Oct 2020
  2. Study start4 Jan 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Jun 2023
  4. Study completion1 Jun 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
91 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04602741
Sponsor's protocol ID
028/2020
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
1 Oct 2020
Last updated
22 May 2026
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: The plan is to share study metrics with participant identifiers removed (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity".

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing A4i Intervention in people with Schizophrenia and Schizo Affective Disorder, run by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health at 1 site in Canada.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 May 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Recruitment (time frame: Through recruitment process an average of 1 week during a 21 month recruitment period.). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 22 May 2026.

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