Randomized Study of Resilience Training Versus Life Skills Training to Prevent Mental Illness in Young Adults with Psychotic Experiences

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of Resilience Training in college students aged 18 to 30 who have elevated risk factors for serious mental illnesses and experience psychotic symptoms. This study compares Resilience Training to another group program called Life Skills Training to see which better reduces symptoms and improves long-term mental health and academic success. The research also explores how the training impacts emotional responses and brain function related to psychosis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two four-week programs with weekly 90-minute group sessions. The Resilience Training group learns skills in mindfulness, self-compassion, and understanding thoughts and feelings. The Life Skills Training group receives information on practical topics like financial literacy, health, and safety. Both programs are designed to be active and time-matched to compare their effects. During the study, participants will complete a variety of assessments at baseline, 4 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. These include questionnaires measuring symptoms, mood, anxiety, suicidality, social functioning, and resilience, as well as brain imaging at selected time points. Researchers will also track academic performance and healthcare use. The study includes ongoing monitoring to evaluate changes in symptoms and overall functioning over two years.

A Preventive Behavioral Intervention for Young Adults With Psychotic Experiences