OCCMHA Chosen for National Research Study

OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich., June 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority (OCCMHA) is one of approximately 50 community behavioral health organizations selected to participate in a nationwide study analyzing antipsychotic treatment patterns of individuals receiving public mental health services.  

REACHOUT, or Research and Evaluation of Antipsychotic Treatment in Community Behavioral Health Organizations Outcomes Study, is being coordinated by Thomson Reuters Janssen. Scientific Affairs is the project sponsor and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare is responsible for enrolling research sites.

"This project gives frontline mental health providers the rare opportunity to participate in a sophisticated scientific study," explains OCCMHA Medical Director Dr. Leonard Rosen. "The objective is to use real-world situations to produce authentic, non-biased outcomes that will determine the effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment patterns for persons who have schizophrenia or bipolar."

The naturalistic observational study will include 2,100 individuals who are diagnosed with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and taking antipsychotic medications like Risperdal Consta or Invega Sustenna. OCCMHA will recruit 144 study participants, 48 from each of the
following mental health service providers: Community Network Services, Easter Seals Michigan and Training and Treatment Innovations.

 "It's a privilege and vote of confidence in our expertise as mental health care providers to be invited to participate in a meaningful research initiative like REACHOUT," says Dr. Carmen McIntyre, vice president of Medical Affairs at Community Network Services. "The more we understand about the benefits and side effects of antipsychotics and why physicians and their patients choose specific medications, the better prepared we'll be to offer targeted solutions that help the people we serve successfully manage symptoms and achieve recovery."

In order to qualify as one of the 50 agencies to participate in REACHOUT, OCCMHA had to be approved by the State of Michigan Institutional Review Board. This board is responsible for ensuring that quality standards of care are maintained during research projects.

Participants who meet the study's eligibility criteria will be interviewed three times during the one year study, starting with an initial meeting to gather baseline information, at six months, and a concluding interview at twelve months.  Participants will be reimbursed $50 per interview.

"Our hope is that the knowledge we gain will help improve the outcomes for all of the people we serve," adds Dr. Rosen.

SOURCE Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority