Recovery Bridge: A Peer Facilitated Intervention to Help Bridge the Transition From Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitalized to Living in the Community

The time following discharge from psychiatric hospitalization is a high-risk period and has been associated with a range of negative outcomes including high rates of hospital readmission and suicide. The purpose of this proposal is to: 1) create a Peer Specialist facilitated intervention, called Recovery Bridge, designed to facilitate the transition from inpatient psychiatric hospitalization to community living; 2) examine feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability; and preliminarily explore the impact of the intervention on: a) readmission rates and connection to outpatient care compared to a control group identified from administrative data; and b) change in recovery and quality of life measures over time in the intervention participants. Results from the proposed open pilot trial will set the stage for next steps including a larger effectiveness trial followed by a possible hybrid-I effectiveness/implementation trial to inform future dissemination and implementation of the intervention more broadly across the VA.

Inclusion Criteria:Inclusion Criteria for active sample:18 years of age or olderenrolled in the inpatient programplanned discharge to the communityExclusion Criteria:Inability to provide consentNo access to either a computer or a telephone after discharge (as at least one of these will be needed should the Veteran and PS interventionist decide to continue to meet remotely)