RECRUITING

Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans

Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

Sexual minority stressors (e.g., sexual minority identity-based discrimination) contribute to greater risk for and severity of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide among sexual minority Veterans. However, no brief, scalable, one-on-one interventions targeting sexual minority stressor-related distress are available in Veterans Affairs (VA) for sexual minority Veterans. The proposed research will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief, 3-session expressive writing intervention to target distress related to sexual minority stressor exposure among sexual minority Veterans. The results of this work will advance knowledge about a promising brief and easy to implement intervention focused on reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among sexual minority Veterans. This proposal aligns with VA's and CSR\&D's commitment to providing equitable services to sexual minority Veterans and the aim of reducing health disparities among underserved Veteran groups.

Official Title

Expressive Writing to Reduce Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms Among Sexual Minority Veterans

Quick Facts

Study Start:2024-03-20
Study Completion:2028-09-30
Study Type:Not specified
Phase:Not Applicable
Enrollment:Not specified
Status:RECRUITING

Study ID

NCT05897021

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years
Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:No
Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT
Inclusion CriteriaExclusion Criteria
  1. * identify as a sexual minority (i.e., identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or another identity other than heterosexual)
  2. * endorse clinically significant depressive or anxiety symptoms (score above 10 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7)
  3. * report a history of sexuality-based minority stressor exposure based on endorsement of at least one item on a modified version of the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS) that is contributing to distress per Veteran report ('yes' on EDS item 11)
  4. * be stable on psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks if on a psychotropic medication
  1. * clear and current suicidal plan and/or intent (assessed via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
  2. * current presentation of unstable mania and/or psychosis (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
  3. * current substance use disorder, severe (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
  4. * significant cognitive impairment, including evidence of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, determined by an inability to comprehend baseline screening questionnaires

Contacts and Locations

Study Contact

Kelly L Harper, PhD
CONTACT
(857) 364-4417
kelly.harper@va.gov
Brian P Marx, PhD
CONTACT
(857) 364-6071
brian.marx@va.gov

Principal Investigator

Kelly L Harper, PhD
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

Study Locations (Sites)

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA
Boston, Massachusetts, 02130-4817
United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

  • Kelly L Harper, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2024-03-20
Study Completion Date2028-09-30

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2024-03-20
Study Completion Date2028-09-30

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

  • Sexual Minorities
  • Veterans
  • Depressive Symptoms
  • Anxiety

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

  • Depressive Symptoms
  • Anxiety