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Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans

Expressive Writing to Reduce Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Veterans

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Time periods mentioned: 30 years

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Over 30 years of research supports expressive writing's effectiveness in reducing stress, depression, and anxiety related to a stressor."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

Sexual minority stressors (e.g., sexual minority identity-based discrimination) contribute to greater risk for and severity of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide among sexual minority Veterans. However, no brief, scalable, one-on-one interventions targeting sexual minority stressor-related distress are available in Veterans Affairs (VA) for sexual minority Veterans. The proposed research will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief, 3-session expressive writing intervention to target distress related to sexual minority stressor exposure among sexual minority Veterans. The results of this work will advance knowledge about a promising brief and easy to implement intervention focused on reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among sexual minority Veterans. This proposal aligns with VA's and CSR\&D's commitment to providing equitable services to sexual minority Veterans and the aim of reducing health disparities among underserved Veteran groups.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: Participants will be Veterans who: * identify as a sexual minority (i.e., identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or another identity other than heterosexual) * endorse clinically significant depressive or anxiety symptoms (score above 10 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7) * report a history of sexuality-based minority stressor exposure that is contributing to distress on phone screening * be stable on psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks if on a psychotropic medication Exclusion Criteria: The exclusion criteria for Veterans in this study are: * clear and current suicidal plan and/or intent (assessed via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale) * current presentation of unstable mania and/or psychosis (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5) * current substance use disorder, severe (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5) * significant cognitive impairment, including evidence of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, determined by an inability to comprehend baseline screening questionnaires

Study sites (1)

MA