In the realm of mental health care, the gap between research and practice is a well-documented challenge. Evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs) often face delays in being integrated into routine practice. The Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) presents a promising solution for addressing sleep and circadian problems in patients with serious mental illness (SMI). This blog explores how practitioners can leverage the findings from recent research on TranS-C to enhance their skills and improve patient outcomes.
Understanding TranS-C
TranS-C is a modular psychosocial treatment designed to address sleep and circadian dysfunctions, which are common among individuals with SMI. The intervention is based on the Sleep Health Framework and has shown efficacy in reducing sleep-related problems, functional impairment, and psychiatric symptoms. The intervention's adaptability allows it to be tailored to the specific needs of community mental health centers (CMHCs), making it a versatile tool for practitioners.
The Importance of Sustainment
Sustainment refers to the continued activities, benefits, and capacity related to an intervention after initial implementation efforts have ended. Research indicates that sustainment is critical to ensuring that EBPTs continue to provide optimal care post-implementation. Unfortunately, sustainment research remains limited, creating a significant gap in understanding how best to maintain these interventions over time.
Key Findings from the TranS-C Study
The study protocol for evaluating TranS-C's sustainment phase offers valuable insights for practitioners:
- Sustainment Outcomes: The study aims to report on the continued activities, benefits, and capacity related to TranS-C after implementation support has ended.
- Adaptation vs. Standard: By comparing Standard TranS-C with Adapted TranS-C, the study evaluates whether tailoring the intervention to fit CMHC contexts improves sustainment outcomes.
- Provider Perceptions: Provider perceptions of treatment fit are examined as potential mediators in achieving better sustainment outcomes.
Implementing Findings in Practice
Practitioners can take several steps to incorporate these findings into their practice:
- Adaptation: Consider adapting EBPTs like TranS-C to better fit your specific practice context. This might involve modifying session lengths or focusing on core modules that address your patients' most pressing needs.
- Training: Engage in training sessions that focus on both standard and adapted versions of interventions. This dual approach can enhance your flexibility and responsiveness to diverse patient needs.
- Sustainment Planning: Develop a sustainment plan that includes regular training updates, peer consultations, and ongoing evaluation of intervention effectiveness.
- Provider Feedback: Regularly gather feedback from providers about their perceptions of treatment fit and use this information to refine intervention delivery.
The Role of Further Research
The findings from the TranS-C study underscore the need for ongoing research into sustainment strategies. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this body of knowledge by participating in studies or conducting their own evaluations of intervention sustainment within their settings.
Conclusion
The Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction offers a robust framework for addressing sleep-related issues among individuals with SMI. By implementing the study's findings on adaptation and sustainment, practitioners can enhance their skills and improve patient outcomes. Embracing these strategies not only bridges the gap between research and practice but also ensures that EBPTs continue to benefit those who need them most.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) for serious mental illness in community mental health part 3: study protocol to evaluate sustainment in a hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation cluster-randomized trial.
