Efficacy Trial of Stress Check-Up
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 2/8/2018 |
| Start Date: | January 5, 2018 |
| End Date: | November 2020 |
| Contact: | Denise Walker, PhD |
| Email: | ddwalker@uw.edu |
| Phone: | 206-543-7511 |
Improving Voluntary Engagement for PTSD Treatment Among Service Members
Untreated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with high societal and
individual costs. Effective interventions for symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) exist
but are underutilized by those who could benefit, especially among active duty military. This
study will develop and test a brief telephone-delivered motivational enhancement intervention
(MET) for active duty Army and Air Force personnel who are experiencing symptoms of PTS, but
who are not currently engaged in PTS treatment. The goal of the intervention is to decrease
stigma around seeking care, increase knowledge about treatment options, increase engagement
in help-seeking behavior, all leading to reductions in PTS symptoms.
individual costs. Effective interventions for symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS) exist
but are underutilized by those who could benefit, especially among active duty military. This
study will develop and test a brief telephone-delivered motivational enhancement intervention
(MET) for active duty Army and Air Force personnel who are experiencing symptoms of PTS, but
who are not currently engaged in PTS treatment. The goal of the intervention is to decrease
stigma around seeking care, increase knowledge about treatment options, increase engagement
in help-seeking behavior, all leading to reductions in PTS symptoms.
The health and well being of military personnel, and consequently the capacity for optimal
functioning of military units, are compromised by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD
is associated with high personal and societal costs. Post-deployment rates of PTSD range from
5-20%; approximately 8% of combat exposed military personnel develop new onsets of PTSD. PTSD
is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. Untreated PTSD is associated with
high rates of suicide, medical services utilization, relationship impairment, legal
difficulties, decreased worker productivity, and decreased military readiness.
While PTSD treatment can be effective, individuals with PTSD may not seek treatment. Drop out
and medication noncompliance are common. Moreover, military personnel encounter both real and
perceived barriers to seeking treatment. Given the availability of effective treatments
contrasted with the low rates of military personnel who present and complete treatment,
figuring out how to connect individuals with PTSD symptoms into treatment and then helping
them to stay engaged is a high priority. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) has shown
promise in promoting treatment entry and enhancing both retention and successful outcomes. A
brief, telephone-delivered MET called a "check-up," has shown promise in promoting
self-initiated behavior change as well as voluntary treatment entry, enhanced retention, and
more successful outcomes for substance abuse. Despite these promising findings, no work has
focused on adapting MET for enhancing self-referral and treatment seeking with individuals
with PTSD who are active duty and who are not already in treatment. Active duty military face
additional challenges to entering treatment than veterans and thus specific research is
necessary to evaluate whether similar programs would be efficacious for active duty
personnel.
Adapting the "check-up" application with military personnel is warranted for three key
reasons: (1) it has the potential of overcoming barriers to treatment-seeking, i.e., stigma
and apprehension of a negative impact on one's military career; (2) it has the potential of
attracting voluntary participation; and (3) protocols for disseminating this low cost
intervention for use with deployed military can readily be developed and evaluated.
functioning of military units, are compromised by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD
is associated with high personal and societal costs. Post-deployment rates of PTSD range from
5-20%; approximately 8% of combat exposed military personnel develop new onsets of PTSD. PTSD
is frequently comorbid with other psychiatric disorders. Untreated PTSD is associated with
high rates of suicide, medical services utilization, relationship impairment, legal
difficulties, decreased worker productivity, and decreased military readiness.
While PTSD treatment can be effective, individuals with PTSD may not seek treatment. Drop out
and medication noncompliance are common. Moreover, military personnel encounter both real and
perceived barriers to seeking treatment. Given the availability of effective treatments
contrasted with the low rates of military personnel who present and complete treatment,
figuring out how to connect individuals with PTSD symptoms into treatment and then helping
them to stay engaged is a high priority. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) has shown
promise in promoting treatment entry and enhancing both retention and successful outcomes. A
brief, telephone-delivered MET called a "check-up," has shown promise in promoting
self-initiated behavior change as well as voluntary treatment entry, enhanced retention, and
more successful outcomes for substance abuse. Despite these promising findings, no work has
focused on adapting MET for enhancing self-referral and treatment seeking with individuals
with PTSD who are active duty and who are not already in treatment. Active duty military face
additional challenges to entering treatment than veterans and thus specific research is
necessary to evaluate whether similar programs would be efficacious for active duty
personnel.
Adapting the "check-up" application with military personnel is warranted for three key
reasons: (1) it has the potential of overcoming barriers to treatment-seeking, i.e., stigma
and apprehension of a negative impact on one's military career; (2) it has the potential of
attracting voluntary participation; and (3) protocols for disseminating this low cost
intervention for use with deployed military can readily be developed and evaluated.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Current PTSD
- Currently serving in the Army or Air Force
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently being treated (counseling and/or medication) for PTSD
- Non-fluency in English
- Evidence of psychosis
- Pending deployment that would preclude completion of follow-ups
We found this trial at
1
site
Seattle, Washington 98105
Principal Investigator: Denise Walker, PhD
Phone: 206-543-7511
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