Telehealth therapy for sexual minority women's mental health and heavy drinking

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 clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of a 10-session LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) delivered via telehealth for sexual minority women in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The intervention, known as EQuIP (Empowering Queer Identities in Psychotherapy), aims to reduce heavy drinking and mental health symptoms such as depression by addressing the unique stressors faced by this population. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the EQuIP treatment or standard LGBTQ-affirmative treatment, with assessments of psychosocial mechanisms that may mediate treatment outcomes.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. be 18 years of age or older
2. be fluent in English
3. self-identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, pansexual, or other non-heterosexual identity

3\) report at ≥ 8 standard drinks/week, on average, in the past 30 days, OR report at least 2 heavy drinking days ( ≥ 4 drinks in one day) in the past 30 days 4) currently experience a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5 depression or anxiety disorder (screened initially using a cutoff of ≥ 2 on the Brief Symptom Inventory-4 and further confirmed by diagnostic interview via the DIAMOND) 5) report at least minimum motivation to reduce drinking (measured by the Readiness Ruler) 6) live in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and planning to stay for at least the next 4 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. report current mental health treatment ≥1 day/mo
2. report having received any CBT in the past 3 months
3. report current alcohol or drug abuse treatment, except mutual self-help (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous)
4. need alcohol detoxification indicated by ≥9 on Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol-Revised (CIWA-Ar)
5. exhibit active psychosis or active mania, as assessed by the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-5 Disorders (SCID) Psych Screen
6. exhibit active suicidality or active homicidality, as assessed by the SCID-Psych Screen
7. be currently legally mandated to attend treatment
8. demonstrate gross cognitive impairment, as assessed with the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status

Where it's running

• Yale LGBTQ Mental Health Initiative with the Yale School of Public Office
  New York, New York, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: John E Pachankis, PhD — Yale University
• Study coordinator: John E Pachankis, PhD
• Email: John.Pachankis@yale.edu
• Phone: 646-429-9407

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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.