Coaching family members to help Veterans with PTSD seek care
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Coaching Into Care With VA-CRAFT to Promote Veteran Engagement in PTSD Care
This study tests whether helping family members support Veterans with PTSD through coaching and online training can encourage them to seek mental health care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 230 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Palo Alto, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT04501328 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to improve engagement in mental health care for Veterans suffering from PTSD by combining telephone coaching for family members with a web-based program called VA Community Reinforcement and Family Training (VA-CRAFT). The Coaching Into Care (CIC) program provides support to family members, encouraging them to help Veterans initiate treatment. By blending these two approaches, the study seeks to enhance the effectiveness of existing services and promote better mental health outcomes for Veterans. Participants will include family members of Veterans who are not currently receiving care for PTSD.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are partners or first-degree family members of Veterans who believe their loved one is experiencing significant PTSD symptoms and has not sought mental health care in the past six months.
Not a fit: Patients who are currently engaged in mental health care or those experiencing domestic violence may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly increase the number of Veterans receiving necessary mental health care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using blended interventions to improve engagement in mental health services, suggesting this approach may be effective.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: The target population consists of partners and first-degree family members who are in regular contact with a Veteran from any service era who believe that their Veteran is suffering from significant symptoms of PTSD and in need of mental health care. Inclusion criteria are: * reporting being in an intimate relationship (dating, engaged, or married) with a Veteran or a first degree family member of a Veteran * reporting that their Veteran is not engaged in mental health care and has not been for the past 6 months * reporting perceived symptoms of PTSD in their Veteran * reporting frequent contact with their Veteran (some verbal or face-to-face contact for 36 of the past 90 days) * having regular access to the Internet and a telephone; and 6) being 18 years of age or older Exclusion Criteria: * reporting by the potential participant that they are subject to domestic violence and may not feel safe engaging in CIC+VA-CRAFT activities * we will exclude partners reporting severe intimate partner violence on the brief Conflict Tactics Scale 2 Short Form with their Veteran in the past 6 months * appropriate referrals for those excluded based on recent intimate partner violence will be provided
Where this trial is running
Palo Alto, California
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA — Palo Alto, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Eric R Kuhn, PhD — VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA
- Study coordinator: Eric R Kuhn, PhD
- Email: Eric.Kuhn@va.gov
- Phone: (650) 493-5000
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.