Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans

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.

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

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.

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

Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans

Condition
Depressive Symptoms
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

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

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

  • * identify as a sexual minority (i.e., identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or another identity other than heterosexual)
  • * endorse clinically significant depressive or anxiety symptoms (score above 10 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7)
  • * 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)
  • * be stable on psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks if on a psychotropic medication
  • * clear and current suicidal plan and/or intent (assessed via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
  • * current presentation of unstable mania and/or psychosis (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
  • * current substance use disorder, severe (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
  • * significant cognitive impairment, including evidence of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, determined by an inability to comprehend baseline screening questionnaires

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,

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

Study Record Dates

2028-09-30