Promoting Positive Emotional Functioning in Police and Military Populations

NCT06035562 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HS26055 (H2023:201)
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 65
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will examine whether actively serving and veteran members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who complete a treatment targeting anhedonia symptoms and amplifying positive emotional processing: 1) experience significant symptom reductions in anxiety, trauma, and depressive symptoms; 2) report increased experience of positive emotions; 3) report improvements to broad functioning and quality of life; and 4) find the treatment to be highly tolerable.

Conditions

Anhedonia

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Change in depression symptoms

  Change in depression symptoms based on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Scores on this scale range from 0-27, with higher scores indication more severe depression.

  6 weeks

• Change in anxiety symptoms

  Change in anxiety symptoms based on the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS). Scores on this scale range from 0-20, with higher scores indication more severe anxiety.

  6 weeks

• Change in PTSD symptoms

  Change in PTSD symptom severity based on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Scores on this scale range from 0-80 with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity.

  6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Change in positive and negative affect

  6 weeks

• Change in quality of life

  6 weeks

• Psychotherapy progress

  6 weeks

• Treatment acceptability

  6 weeks

Study Arms (1)

PVSET

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive a course of individual therapy through the Operational Stress Injury Clinic (OSIC) at Deer Lodge Centre. Therapy will consist of a validated treatment protocol known as Positive Valence System Enhancement Treatment for Anxiety and Depression (PVSET), which will consist of psychoeducation and positive activity interventions designed to increase positive emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. Therapy sessions will be facilitated by psychologists, licensed therapists (e.g., MSW, RPN), and/or graduate students in psychology under supervision at the OSIC. PVSET will consist of 6 sessions, each lasting one hour, and will be delivered either virtually or in-person at OSIC depending on patient preference.

Behavioral: PVSET

Interventions

PVSET BEHAVIORAL

6, one-hour sessions of individual therapy, consisting of Positive Valence System Enhancement Treatment for Anxiety and Depression (PVSET), which will consist of psychoeducation and positive activity interventions designed to increase positive emotions, cognitions, and behaviors.

PVSET

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Be an actively serving or veteran member of the CAF and RCMP;
• Have been referred to receive the treatment protocol at the OSIC at Deer Lodge Centre by a doctor or psychologist;
• Have previously participated in at least one evidence-based psychological treatment for depressive, anxiety, or trauma-and-stressor-related condition at OSIC but remain clinically symptomatic;
• Be able to speak, read, and write in English;
• Have no current psychosis, untreated bipolar disorder, or current suicidal ideation with plan and intent;
• Be on a stable medication regime and agree to not make changes for the duration of the treatment.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Manitoba: lead

Study Sites (1)

Deer Lodge Centre

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3J 0L3, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Anhedonia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurobehavioral Manifestations; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 6, 2023
• First Posted: September 13, 2023
• Study Start: September 5, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 12, 2025
• Study Completion: August 1, 2025
• Last Updated: June 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)