Evaluating a New Mental Health Group for Asians and Asian Americans

Examining the Feasibility and Impact of a Novel Psychoeducation and Process Group for Asian and Asian American Psychiatric Outpatients

This study's overarching aim is to evaluate a new psychoeducation and process group for Asian and Asian American psychiatric outpatients. This is a 12 week mental health group which will focus on both educational content related to Asian mental health as well as increasing connection between group members. We hypothesize that participants in the group will experience a decrease in psychiatric symptoms at the conclusion of the group compared to their symptoms at the beginning of group. We also hypothesize that participants will feel more socially connected after the group.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Mental Health Issue
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Psychoeducation and Process Group for Asian and Asian American Psychiatric Outpatients

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Lisa Zhang, PhD; Phone Number: 650-721-8590; Email: lisaz@stanford.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Palo Alto, California, United States, 94304
      • Recruiting
      • Stanford University - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
      • Contact: Lisa Zhang, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 650-721-8590; Email: lisaz@stanford.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Age range is 18 years and older. All genders are eligible. For ethnic background, to be eligible for this study, participants must identify as Asian or Asian American due to the group under investigation being specifically designed as an Asian and Asian American Psychoeducation and Process Group.

The research study will be offered to all patients enrolling in the Asian and Asian American Psychoeducation and Process Group in the Stanford Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. The purpose of this study is to evaluate patient experiences in this psychoeducation and process group, so participants will be limited to those enrolling in the group as part of their clinical treatment.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years and older
• Participants must identify as Asian or Asian American
• Sufficient English proficiency to participate in a psychotherapy group conducted in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to provide written informed consent
• Elevated suicide risk (e.g. recent active suicidal ideation, past-year suicide attempt) without a current individual mental health provider
• Any other challenges that would preclude participation in group psychotherapy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Patients in a Psychoeducation and Process Group for Asian and Asian American Psychiatric Outpatients

Behavioral: Psychoeducation and Process Group for Asian and Asian American Psychiatric Outpatients; Participants will be individuals enrolling in a 1.5 hour weekly therapy group lasting 12 weeks and will be invited to participate in research on group processes and outcomes. The psychoeducation and process group will be a 12-session weekly closed group with 10-15 participants per group (2-3 groups total) conducted via Zoom to enhance accessibility and reduce barriers to care. Groups will be co-led by licensed clinical psychologists with experience providing both group psychotherapy and culturally responsive services. Group sessions will include brief check-ins, collaborative agenda-setting, a mini-didactic, individual reflection, and group discussion. The didactics curriculum will include topics such as intergenerational trauma, cultural differences in emotional expression, the model minority myth, family dynamics, racism, and positive connections to culture.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)	Depression symptoms assessed on 4-point Likert scale. Score range from 0 to 27, with higher scores representing more severe depression symptoms	Once at baseline, once at 6 weeks, once at 12 weeks
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener-7 (GAD-7)	Anxiety symptoms assessed on 4-point Likert scale. Score range from 0 to 21, with higher scores representing more severe anxiety symptoms	Once at baseline, once at 6 weeks, once at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Social Connectedness Scale	Subjective social connectedness assessed on 6-point Likert scale. Score range from 20 to 120, with higher scores representing higher perceived social connectedness	Once at baseline, once at 12 weeks
Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale	Subjective self-esteem assessed on 4-point Likert scale. Score range from 10 to 40, with higher scores representing higher self-esteem	Once at baseline, once at 12 weeks
Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale	Help-seeking self-stigma assessed on 5-point Likert scale. Score range from 10 to 50, with higher scores representing higher self-stigma of seeking help	Once at baseline, once at 12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Stanford University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lisa Zhang, PhD, Stanford University; Principal Investigator: Melanie Hom, PhD, Stanford University; Principal Investigator: Stacy Lin, PhD, Stanford University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 29, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 72936

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No