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Self-Help Intervention for Post 9/11 Veterans With Depression or PTSD Symptoms

A Self-Help Intervention to Improve Functioning, Symptoms, and Treatment Utilization Among Non-Treatment Engaged Post 9/11 Veterans With Depression or PTSD Symptoms

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: 40 weeks

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
  • "A total of 200 Veterans from the Syracuse and Durham VA healthcare system will complete validated measures in 6 assessments over 40 weeks."
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

In plain language

This study compares a self-help program with standard resources for Veterans with depression or PTSD symptoms who are not in counseling. PTSD is a mental health condition linked to trauma. The program teaches healthy ways to cope and how to find support; Veterans will complete 6 short assessments over 40 weeks.

It is important to provide support and resources for the many post-9/11 Veterans with mental health symptoms and poor psychosocial functioning who do not engage in psychotherapy. One of the biggest reasons post-9/11 Veterans do not seek treatment is a preference to handle problems on their own. This study examines a self-help intervention that teaches Veterans healthy coping strategies they can use on their own and how to seek out recovery support services such as mental health treatment or whole-person care if they decide to do so in the future. This study will compare the impact of self-help and standard resources at improving mental health and resource utilization. Two hundred Veterans will complete 6 brief assessments across 40 weeks.

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

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Are age 18 or older and served in the military on or after September 11, 2001.
  • Are enrolled in the Syracuse or Durham VA Healthcare System and had a primary care or Military 2VA clinic visit in the past 24 months.
  • Have current depression or PTSD symptoms based on screening questions.
  • Report that symptoms make daily activities difficult.

Who can't join

  • Cannot communicate in English.
  • Have vision problems that prevent reading self-help materials.
  • Have hearing problems that prevent completing phone assessments.
  • Have thinking or memory problems that prevent understanding and agreeing to join the study.
  • Have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or another disorder that affects your sense of what is real.
  • Had at least 2 outpatient counseling visits in the past 90 days, plan to attend a scheduled visit in the next 30 days, or had a hospital stay for mental health care in the past 90 days.
  • Started a mental health medicine or changed its dose in the past 4 weeks.
  • Are at immediate risk of suicide or have an active high-risk suicide alert in your health record.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Veteran age \>= 18 years who served on or after September 11, 2001 * Enrolled at Syracuse or Durham VA Healthcare System (had an encounter in primary care or Military 2VA clinic in past 24 months) * Screen positive for current symptoms of MDD (PHQ-2) or PTSD (PC-PTSD-5) * Report current functional impairment (PHQ-9 item 10) Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to communicate in English * Visual impairment that precludes reading self-help materials * Hearing impairment that precludes completing telephone assessments * Cognitive impairment that precludes providing informed consent * Serious mental illness (diagnosis of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders) * Engaged in psychotherapy/counseling (\>= 2 outpatient therapy visits in past 90 days, scheduled outpatient therapy visit in upcoming 30 days that intends to attend, or psychiatric hospitalization in past 90 days) * Started or had dosage change in psychotropic medication in the past 4 weeks * At imminent risk of suicide or has active high-risk for suicide flag

Study sites (2)

NC

NY