The study used a convenience sample, in which participants of any racial or ethnic background, aged 18 years or older (all based on self-report), and who were English-speaking, were included. To obtain a range of education levels, we recruited volunteers from local hospitals, community settings including local businesses, and college campuses in the New York City area. The study was advertised through word-of-mouth referrals, and through flyers posted on bulletin boards in college and community service lobbies, and in clinical waiting room areas. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and by the Institutional Review Boards from two local hospitals, which granted permission to recruit individuals receiving treatment at their outpatient mental health clinics.
