Counseling intervention to improve firearm storage for those with PTSD
Official title: Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T): A Randomized Controlled Trial of Counseling to Promote a Secure Home Environment
Run by University of Colorado, Denver · NCT06876740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a counseling program to see if it can help people with PTSD store their firearms more safely to reduce the risk of suicide.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 168 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Colorado, Denver Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Aurora, Colorado) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 15, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 14, 2028 |
| Study ends | September 14, 2028 |
| Registry record updated | May 20, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06876740 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older who own firearms and have a history of trauma along with a positive PTSD screen.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who currently store all their firearms unloaded and locked, or those experiencing acute mental health crises, may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T), a counseling intervention designed to enhance secure firearm storage practices among adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Participants will undergo a baseline assessment, receive the PSG-T intervention, and complete follow-up surveys at 1, 3, and 6 months to measure changes in knowledge, intentions, and actual storage behaviors. The study compares PSG-T to a control intervention, Project Safe Guard (PSG), which does not specifically address PTSD symptoms. The ultimate goal is to reduce suicide risk by promoting safer firearm storage among individuals with PTSD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce the risk of suicide among individuals with PTSD by promoting safer firearm storage practices.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that lethal means safety counseling can effectively promote secure firearm storage, but this specific adaptation for individuals with PTSD is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 18+ years * Firearm owner * History of one or more victimization traumas per the Life Events Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) (LEC-5), defined as having directly experienced physical assault, sexual assault, combat, and/or captivity * Positive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screen on the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) * Willing to provide physical location at time of Zoom sessions * Willing to keep Zoom camera on during study sessions * Ability to read, write, and speak English Exclusion Criteria: * Currently stores all personal firearms unloaded and locked * Active psychosis or acute mania necessitating clinical intervention * Acute thoughts of self- or other-harm necessitating imminent clinical intervention (e.g., hospitalization) * Unable to provide informed consent
Where it's running
-
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ian Stanley, PhD
- Email: ian.stanley@cuanschutz.edu
- Phone: 720-848-6777
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.