Relationship Checkups to Reduce Veteran Suicide Risk

Description

This study compares two approaches to working with Veterans that have a mix of mental health and relationship concerns in primary care. One approach is a 3-session couple-based program called the Brief Relationship Checkup (BRC). BRC has shown promise improving relationship health in Air Force primary care (including some mental health symptoms related to relationship functioning) but has never been tested for individuals with significant mental health concerns. The other approach is a high-quality delivery of three sessions of Co-Located Collaborative Care (CCC) with the Screened Veteran only. This program is the current standard of care for Veterans reporting mental health concerns in primary care (including mental health concerns related to their relationship) but has never been tested for individuals struggling with relationship concerns. The goal is to compare the benefits of the couples-based program vs. the individual-based program when it comes to reducing suicide risk factors at the relationship level and the individual level.

Conditions

Relationship Distress, Mental Health

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

This study compares two approaches to working with Veterans that have a mix of mental health and relationship concerns in primary care. One approach is a 3-session couple-based program called the Brief Relationship Checkup (BRC). BRC has shown promise improving relationship health in Air Force primary care (including some mental health symptoms related to relationship functioning) but has never been tested for individuals with significant mental health concerns. The other approach is a high-quality delivery of three sessions of Co-Located Collaborative Care (CCC) with the Screened Veteran only. This program is the current standard of care for Veterans reporting mental health concerns in primary care (including mental health concerns related to their relationship) but has never been tested for individuals struggling with relationship concerns. The goal is to compare the benefits of the couples-based program vs. the individual-based program when it comes to reducing suicide risk factors at the relationship level and the individual level.

Supporting Relationships to Reduce Suicide Risk: A Randomized Control Trial of the Brief Relationship Checkup

Relationship Checkups to Reduce Veteran Suicide Risk

Condition
Relationship Distress
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Canandaigua

VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, NY, Canandaigua, New York, United States, 14424-1159

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.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. BOTH PARTNERS must be age 18 or over
  • 2. BOTH PARTNERS must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English and cognitive capacity to understand the study through comprehension of consent questions
  • 3. BOTH PARTNERS must self-identify as "in a committed relationship" with their partner for at least 6-months.
  • 4. AT LEAST ONE PARTNER must report at least mild relationship distress on a relationship satisfaction screen (CSI-4).
  • 5. AT LEAST ONE PARTNER must be a VHA-enrolled Veteran who screens positive on a VA Primary Care Mental Health Screen for ONE OR MORE of the following conditions: Depressed Mood, Unsafe drinking, Posttraumatic stress, or Suicidal Ideation.
  • 1. EITHER PARTNER reports that they are already engaged in ongoing couple or family therapy.
  • 2. EITHER PARTNER reports severe intimate partner violence in the last year.
  • 3. EITHER PARTNER reports ongoing or upcoming legal conflicts between one another (e.g., custody dispute; restraining order; divorce proceedings)
  • 4. EITHER PARTNER reports experiencing suicidal intent requiring hospitalization.
  • 5. EITHER PARTNER experiences past-month psychosis or mania.
  • 6. EITHER PARTNER has completed therapy with the PI, Dr. Dev Crasta, within the last 5 years.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Dev J Crasta, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System, Canandaigua, NY

Study Record Dates

2027-09-30