Forgiveness-Based Writing to Prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans

NCT00861666 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: H-23892
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a forgiveness-based writing intervention in an open trial with 20 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who have recently experienced combat-related trauma to:

1. 1.Determine the feasibility of delivering the intervention.
2. 2.Evaluate the acceptability of the intervention.
3. 3.Collect preliminary outcome data on PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety, anger, and forgiveness.

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Anxiety Disorders; PTSD

Keywords

Forgiveness; Writing; PTSD; OEF; OIF; Veterans

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• TEI-SF (Treatment Evaluation Inventory-Short Form)

  One-month follow-up

• CSQ-8 (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire)

  One-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• SCID-PTSD Module

  Baseline and One-Month Follow-up

• DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales)

  Baseline, One-week Post, and One-month Follow-up

• PCL-C (PTSD Checklist- Civilian Version)

  Baseline, One-week Post, and One-month Follow-up

• PTCI (Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory)

  Baseline, One-week Post, One-month Follow-up

Study Arms (1)

Forgiveness-based Writing

OTHER

Behavioral: Forgiveness-Based Writing

Interventions

Forgiveness-Based Writing BEHAVIORAL

Participants will be asked to complete self-report measures during the initial session, will be given writing instructions and will complete the first writing task on-site. The first writing task will focus on describing an offense in which someone hurt or angered the participant, and about which the participant is still hurt and angry. Eleven additional writing tasks will be completed at home, three per week for a month. Writing assignments will include topics such as describing thoughts and feelings about the offense, identifying possible motives or mitigating circumstances, identifying benefits of the offense itself, identifying times when one has offended others and how one felt afterwards, identifying benefits of letting go of the offense, and writing a letter to the offender. Participants will return each written assignment to the study staff. All participants will be tracked closely by the study coordinator and receive a reminder phone call on the day of each writing task.

Forgiveness-based Writing

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Men and women of all racial/ethnic backgrounds between the ages of 18 and 64, seen in the identified settings (veteran participants must be OEF/OIF).
• Presence of sub-threshold PTSD as defined by Blanchard et al. (1994), related to combat experienced in the past 2 years.
• Ability to read, write, and speak English.
• Ability to attend on-site baseline and follow-up appointments.
• Ability to be contacted by phone with study reminders.

You may not qualify if:

• Primary psychotic disorder unrelated to PTSD.
• Impaired cognitive functioning.
• Current suicidal or homicidal intent.
• Symptoms meeting full PTSD diagnostic criteria.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• South Central VA Mental Illness Research, Education & Clinical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Anxiety Disorders; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Catherine R. Barber, PhD

  MIRECC Affiliate

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Catherine R. Barber, PhD

CONTACT

713-873-5134; romeroc@bcm.tmc.edu

Alexandra Shepherd, B.S.

CONTACT

713-794-8821; shepherd.alexandra@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: FED

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2009
• First Posted: March 13, 2009
• Study Start: October 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2009
• Study Completion: July 1, 2009
• Last Updated: June 3, 2009

Record last verified: 2009-06

Locations

US (1)