NCT01352624

Brief Summary

Veterans with psychiatric disabilities face unique challenges concerning money management. Financial strain, money mismanagement, and homelessness have been well documented among veterans with psychiatric disabilities and linked to poor outcomes. The investigators' long-term goal is to promote recovery among veterans with psychiatric disabilities by addressing an 'unmet need' of developing basic money skills necessary for independent functioning in living, working, and social environments. The investigators' objective in the current application is to rigorously evaluate a pilot-tested, stakeholder-informed intervention grounded in principles of psychiatric rehabilitation designed to help develop money management skills and informed financial judgment among veterans with psychiatric disabilities. $teps for Achieving Financial Empowerment ($AFE) is an individualized, psycho-educational intervention that aims to teach veterans with psychiatric disabilities how to save money, create a viable budget, avoid money scams and financial exploitation, and access vocational and mental health resources. To evaluate the $AFE, the investigators will randomly assign N=200 veterans with psychiatric disabilities to either (a) the $AFE intervention (n=100); or (b) a "usual care" control (n=100). The investigators will interview veterans with psychiatric disabilities at baseline and six months. The investigators' central hypothesis, based on strong preliminary data, is that by fostering financial skills and judgment, the $AFE will concurrently increase employment, boost work motivation, and reduce disablement. If these outcomes are met, the investigators hypothesize the intervention will also lead to reduced psychiatric symptoms and homelessness among veterans with psychiatric disabilities.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
183

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2011

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 1, 2011

Completed
1 month until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

May 10, 2011

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

May 12, 2011

Completed
3.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

September 1, 2014

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2014

Completed
Last Updated

June 15, 2018

Status Verified

September 1, 2014

Enrollment Period

3.4 years

First QC Date

May 10, 2011

Last Update Submit

June 13, 2018

Conditions

Psychiatric Problem

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Employment

    Any part time or full time employment between baseline interview and follow-up interview

    Past six months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Financial savings

    Past Six months

  • Financial Debt

    Past six months

  • Homelessness

    Past Six Months

Study Arms (2)

Experimental

EXPERIMENTAL

$teps for Achieving Financial Empowerment ($AFE)

Behavioral: $AFE

Usual Care

NO INTERVENTION

Veterans in control arm will receive usual care at VA

Interventions

$AFEBEHAVIORAL

$teps for Achieving Financial Empowerment ($AFE) is an individualized, psycho-educational intervention that aims to teach veterans with psychiatric disabilities how to save money, create a viable budget, avoid money scams and financial exploitation, and access vocational and mental health resources.

Experimental

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age 18-65 years
  • Veteran
  • Receives disability for psychiatric or cognitive condition from either the VA or SSA

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina, 27701, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Elbogen EB, Hamer RM, Swanson JW, Swartz MS. A Randomized Clinical Trial of a Money Management Intervention for Veterans With Psychiatric Disabilities. Psychiatr Serv. 2016 Oct 1;67(10):1142-1145. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500203. Epub 2016 May 16.

    PMID: 27181733DERIVED

Study Officials

  • Eric Elbogen, Ph.D.

    UNC-Chapel Hill

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

  • Eric Elbogen, Ph.D.

    UNC Chapel Hill

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

May 10, 2011

First Posted

May 12, 2011

Study Start

April 1, 2011

Primary Completion

September 1, 2014

Study Completion

September 1, 2014

Last Updated

June 15, 2018

Record last verified: 2014-09

Locations

US(1)