Stress Inoculation Training (SIT): An Evidence-Based, Military Aligned Psychological Performance and Health Sustainment Prototype

NCT06656780 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: HSC-MS-24-0756
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of augmenting existing/traditional Navy military training with the manualized SIT Core Protocol (CP) utilizing the established augmentation procedure set as measured by feasibility, utility, and satisfaction metrics (CSQ-8) and to examine the relative effectiveness of the SIT-CP by comparison to standard military training in a controlled trial examining outcomes of stress tolerance, psychological health, resilience and occupational performance in Sailors undergoing DCA Firefighting Training (pre- to post-training), while collecting implementation data.

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Keywords

Psychological health; resilience; Warfighter performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Changes in perceived management of stress as assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

  This is a 10 item questionnaire and each is scored a 5 -point likert scale from 0(never) to 4(very often) for a score range of 0 to 40, higher total scores indicate higher perceived stress.

  Baseline, about 3 weeks from baseline, about 6 weeks form baseline, about 11 weeks form baseline, end of study (an average of 19 weeks form baseline)

• Change in resilience as assessed by the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC)

  This is a 25 item questionnaire and each is scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0 (Not true at all) to 4 (True nearly all the time) for a maximum score of 100 higher score indicating more resilience

  Baseline, about 3 weeks from baseline, about 6 weeks form baseline, about 11 weeks form baseline, end of study (an average of 19 weeks form baseline)

Secondary Outcomes (16)

• Successful presentation of the element in the training module as assessed by the SIT Feasibility Rubric

  week 2

• Successful presentation of the element in the training module as assessed by the SIT Feasibility Rubric

  week 4

• level of confidence with delivering the training elements within the Module and the full Module as assessed by the SIT Feasibility Rubric

  week 2

• level of confidence with delivering the training elements within the Module and the full Module as assessed by the SIT Feasibility Rubric

  week 4

• Utility as assessed by the standardized self-assessment tool

  week 2

Study Arms (2)

SIT + Damage Control Assessment & Firefighting (DCA-FF)

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: SIT; Behavioral: DCA-FF

DCA-FF

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: DCA-FF

Interventions

SIT BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo 2 day (8 hours each) Stress Inoculation Training . This will be done in 3 steps: Step 1: focus on education about the human body and brain and shift to hands on skills practice to improve performance in stressful conditions and is designed to improve self-and-situational awareness and the ability to manipulate reactions and responses in the body on purpose to enhance performance Step 2: focuses on improving mental self-awareness and gaining skills in Mental Agility and Mental Flexibility Step 3: participants will have specific simulations and real-world opportunities to practice the skills learnt.

SIT + Damage Control Assessment & Firefighting (DCA-FF)

DCA-FF BEHAVIORAL

Participants will undergo 8-week Standard Firefighting Training

DCA-FF; SIT + Damage Control Assessment & Firefighting (DCA-FF)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• US Navy service members on Active Duty or Reserve status
• be fluent in English.
• be capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form and in this protocol.
• have access to a SmartPhone, computer, or tablet to utilize and access the virtual classroom.
• agree to undergo psychometric and operational performance testing and participate in ongoing assessments throughout the study duration.
• be willing to comply with all study procedures, able to complete all assessments independently, and available for the duration of the study (with reasonable accommodations for military operational demands as they arise).

You may not qualify if:

• Active suicidal ideation as assessed by the Investigator at screening or as identified during the study.
• Clinically significant history of psychotic disorder, bipolar spectrum disorder, or neurodegenerative disease/dementia as assessed by the Investigator.
• Active severe substance abuse as assessed by the investigator in accordance with The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses (DSM-5) Substance Abuse Disorder criteria, or presence of illicit substance abuse.
• They are currently undergoing another form of treatment other than supportive therapy (\>2 times per month).
• Any other condition/situation that the Investigator believes may interfere with participant safety, study conduct, or interpretation of study data.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston: lead
• Department of Defense / Congressionally Mandated Research Program (CDMRP): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction

Study Officials

• Sarah Jackson, MFT, PhD

  The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sarah Jackson, MFT, PhD

CONTACT

(713) 486-2700; Sarah.E.Jackson@uth.tmc.edu

Ronald Acierno

CONTACT

(713) 486-2863; Ronald.Acierno@uth.tmc.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 21, 2024
• First Posted: October 24, 2024
• Study Start: August 31, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2027
• Last Updated: June 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)