# Reducing Duration of Untreated Psychosis through Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones

> **NIH NIH K23** · BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $161,506

## Abstract

Project Summary
The candidate requests support for a four-year program of research and training to pilot a novel therapeutic
approach for working with parents and other concerned significant others (PCSO) of individuals experiencing a
first episode of psychosis (FEP) who are not engaged in treatment. The training plan emphasizes areas that
are critical toward establishing the candidate as an independent clinical investigator.
Young people experiencing FEP have significantly higher mortality than the general population of 16-30 year
olds in the United States, but over 30% of individuals diagnosed with a new-onset psychotic disorder do not
receive any mental health treatment in the year following their diagnosis, and the vast majority are grossly
under-treated.1 Well-intended solutions such as providing education about the nature of psychosis cannot be
implemented if the individual at the center of concern – the person experiencing psychosis – refuses to meet
with providers. Ambivalent and fearful attitudes regarding the role of psychiatric interventions may lead
individuals with FEP to decline or drop out of treatment. The development of effective tactics for shortening the
duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) has been recognized as a priority area by the NIH.
The research aim of this proposal is to develop and pilot test a brief motivational interviewing (MI) based skills
intervention that targets PCSO of individuals with FEP who refuse treatment (hereafter referred to as
individuals with psychosis, or IP). Clinician-delivered MI has been identified as an effective technique for
enhancing adherence once individuals with psychosis are involved in care,2-3 and may also be useful for
engaging those who are not yet interested in treatment. The proposed project will adapt and pilot test an
intervention that teaches MI skills to PCSO of IP with the goal of increasing IP engagement with care. The
outcomes of interest for this project are the feasibility of the approach, rates of IP enrolling in treatment, and
changes in PCSO wellbeing over time. This pilot will yield feasibility and effect size estimates that will be used
to inform the design of a randomized clinical trial testing the effectiveness of this approach for facilitating care
engagement and shortening DUP among untreated individuals with FEP in the community.
The training aim of this proposal is to ensure that the candidate obtains the preparation and mentorship
needed to develop an independent program of clinical research in the area of early intervention in psychosis.
At this stage, the candidate requests training in clinical trial design and management, analytic techniques
relevant to clinical trials, motivational interviewing, and implementation research. The research and training will
take place in the Department of Psychiatry of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a hospital affiliate of
Harvard Medical School. The training plan leverages the candidate’s access to leading mentors in ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10216992
- **Project number:** 5K23MH118373-04
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Emily R Kline
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $161,506
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10216992

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10216992, Reducing Duration of Untreated Psychosis through Motivational Interviewing for Loved Ones (5K23MH118373-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10216992. Licensed CC0.

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