Parenting STAIR for military-connected mothers and their young children

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This is a two-arm randomized controlled trial comparing a modular Parenting STAIR program (PSTAIR-M) to treatment as usual across three Cohen Veterans Network clinics in Texas. The study will enroll 120 military-connected mothers who have experienced trauma and an index child aged 2–10, with mothers randomized to 12–16 weekly one-hour virtual PSTAIR-M sessions or site-provided evidence-based treatments. PSTAIR-M combines STAIR and PC-CARE with a uniform Module 1 and tailored Module 2 pathways (skills, narrative exposure, or parental functioning) chosen based on response to Module 1. Assessments occur at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment and include self-report measures and observed parent-child interactions.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Military-connected mother, defined as a mother who is either a female service member or veteran or female spouse of a service member or veteran;
2. Has a child aged 2-10;
3. Legal guardian of index child with legal and physical custody;
4. Lifetime trauma exposure (Life Events Checklist (LEC-5); Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q));
5. Screen positive for PTSD (defined as a PCL-5 score ≥32 or meeting ≥3 out of 4 DSM-5 symptom criteria \[B, C, D, E\] on the PCL-5), and/or depression (PHQ-9 score ≥8), and/or low parenting self-efficacy (PSOC score \<59);
6. Able to speak and understand English or Spanish;
7. Eligible to receive services at a Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. High risk for suicide (Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ));
2. Current psychotic symptoms (DSM-5-TR Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure Domain VII);
3. Disability affecting communication, such as deafness;
4. Index child with severe developmental disability;
5. Severe substance or alcohol use (The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test - Lite (ASSIST-Lite); Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test-Short Form (CUDIT-SF));
6. Currently receiving another trauma-focused individual mental health treatment.

Where it's running

• Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, El Paso
  El Paso, Texas, United States Recruiting
• Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, Killeen
  Killeen, Texas, United States Recruiting
• Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Endeavors, San Antonio
  San Antonio, Texas, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Kathrine S Sullivan, PhD — New York University
• Study coordinator: Kathrine S Sullivan, PhD
• Email: ks5313@nyu.edu
• Phone: 3235526056

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.