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Changing Lives and Changing Outcomes-9 at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital

Changing Lives and Changing Outcomes-9 at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital: Implementing and Evaluating A Mental Illness and Criminal Risk Focused Intervention for People With Serious Mental Illness

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes

Inclusion Criteria:

* Currently hospitalized at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH)
* At least 18 years old
* Self-reported current or past legal involvement
* Speaks English
* For patients without a legally authorized representative (LAR): demonstrate capacity to consent per the Capacity Assessment Record (CAR).
* For patients with an LAR: assent to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Hospital status that does not permit group attendance (e.g., room-based seclusion)

About the study

People with serious mental illness (depression, bipolar, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders) have high rates of repeated criminal legal involvement and psychiatric hospitalizations. Longstanding research shows that in addition to treating clients' symptoms of mental illness, targeting risk factors for legal involvement can help reduce their chances of future incarcerations. Because hospitals are becoming increasingly forensic, treatment programs that address both mental illness and risk factors for legal involvement may be especially helpful in a state hospital setting, like Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH). This treatment study offers an adjunctive 9-session intervention, Changing Lives and Changing Outcomes-9 (CLCO-9), for patients at WRCH; this program is designed to help people with serious mental illness who are involved in the legal system increase their awareness of their mental health and reduce their chances of future legal involvement.

The investigators are proposing a treatment study testing the use of the CLCO-9 group intervention with patients with serious mental illness with current or previous criminal legal involvement at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital (WRCH). The study has three aims:

1. Evaluate feasibility, fidelity, and patient satisfaction during the implementation of the CLCO-9 group treatment at WRCH 2. Evaluate CLCO-9's effectiveness on improving patient's self-reported mental health, and behavioral indicators of mental health and risk factors for legal involvement 3. Explore changes in WRCH clinicians' knowledge and attitudes about treating risk factors for criminal legal involvement.

To test these aims, the research team will employ a two-phase study. In the first phase, the researchers will implement the intervention and make necessary adjustments to maximize the success of the implementation. In the second phase, the researchers will evaluate the treatment program's effectiveness in producing change from pre- to post-treatment.

All patient participants in this study will receive the intervention. The projected sample size is about 20 treatment completers and 4 to 8 group leaders.

What is being tested

• Changing Lives and Changing Outcomes-9 (behavioral)

Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital · Participants: 40 · Started: Feb 5, 2026

Contact the study team

• Faith Scanlon, PhD · Phone: 6177242079
• Corinne Cather, PhD · Phone: 6177266692

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT07359157

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Psychotic Disorders
• Depression

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.