RESEARCH WEEKLY: June Research Roundup
By Nina Robertson
(June 29, 2022) Research Roundup is a monthly public service of the Office of Research and Public Affairs. Each edition describes a striking new data point about severe mental illness and summarizes recently published research reports or developments.
DATAPOINT OF THE MONTH
2.6 million people with serious mental illness identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual
June represents Pride Month, a significant time to recognize and celebrate the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals have had on history in the United States. According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), as of 2019, there were roughly 2.6 million lesbian, gay, or bisexual people with serious mental illness, up from 1.4 million in 2016. Of the 2.6 million LGB individuals with serious mental illness, 31.8% did not receive treatment in 2019.
More updated research on LGB and serious mental illness is necessary to fill in gaps of knowledge. There is a need for research to shed light on why the rate of serious mental illness is increasing for this group and how to alleviate disparities in treatment access and equity.
RESEARCH OF THE MONTH
Patients with schizophrenia had the highest excess mortality rate in 2020
A recent study conducted by researchers at NORC at the University of Chicago indicated that the risk of death in 2020 was highest among Medicare beneficiaries who needed professional caregiving, specifically individuals with serious mental health conditions. In 2020, individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other psychotic disorders had extremely high annual excess mortality rates of 32.5%, 24.4%, and 21.3%, respectively. This is an average excess mortality rate of 26% for individuals with severe mental illness. These numbers are drastically high when compared to other chronic conditions such as cancer and pulmonary disease. Excess morality rates are the percent difference between the observed pandemic morality rate (2020 or 2021) and the pre-pandemic mortality rate (2019).
Lapses in care and transmission of the virus from caregivers to patients put Medicare enrollees with serious mental illness at the most risk for mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the authors. They call for increased planning and support in the future to change the way caregivers provide care in a crisis. This is vital to decrease the risk of transmission and protect individuals with mental illness from increased mortality.
Stigma and neighborhood disadvantage increase symptom severity
Individuals with serious mental illness who experience higher internalized stigma and neighborhood disadvantage experience greater symptom severity over time. Authors from Johns Hopkins University published research in the International Journal of Social Science that built upon previous research of social supports and neighborhood relations as predictors of well-being and recovery among individuals with serious mental illness.
Researchers examined 271 patients with serious mental disorders from two urban community psychiatry clinics in Baltimore to determine how individuals with serious mental illness report severity of symptoms on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Results indicated that stigma is strongly associated with symptom severity and a disadvantaged neighborhood environment is connected to higher levels of negative symptoms and general psychopathology over time. Authors described potential individual and population interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and public policies that have the capacity to benefit neighborhood environments when aligned with conventional treatment.
PeerTECH amplifies empowerment and improvement in psychiatric wellbeing
A new article by researchers from Dartmouth College published in Journal of Mental Health examined the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of a new digital peer support self-management intervention called “PeerTECH” in Massachusetts. PeerTECH facilitates the delivery of self-management in people with serious mental illness through interventions such as coping skills training, psychoeducation, medical management, relapse prevention planning, health behaviors and peer support. Digital peer support is Medicaid reimbursable in 47 states and aims to provide patients with serious mental illness the skills they need to take care of themselves.
Results from the study indicated a 70% retention rate for participants and 80% participation in ten or more classes. PeerTECH was found to be feasible and acceptable for both peer support specialists and people with serious mental illness. Participants reported higher levels of empowerment, and improvements in psychiatric self-management, medical self-management skills and feelings of loneliness. The authors suggest continued research that applies PeerTech methods for other state populations and larger sample sizes.
