Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans

Description

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans (DBT-J) is a comprehensive, integrative program distinctively designed to address the range of mental health, substance use, case management, and legal needs of Veterans with current or ongoing criminal justice involvement. Data from two prior clinical trials attest to the program's feasibility and acceptability and preliminarily suggest participation in the program may yield meaningful improvements in risk for criminal behavior and resolution of high-priority case management needs. However, continued research is needed to further investigate the program's efficacy. This Phase III clinical trial aims to investigate the superiority of DBT-J over a supportive group therapy treatment in decreasing risk of future criminal behavior and increasing psychosocial functioning. Secondary and exploratory aims will also investigate superiority of DBT-J in improving secondary treatment targets, potential differential efficacy across special-interest Veteran subgroups, and long-term consequences of program participation.

Conditions

Criminal Behavior, Criminal Recidivism, Psychosocial Functioning

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans (DBT-J) is a comprehensive, integrative program distinctively designed to address the range of mental health, substance use, case management, and legal needs of Veterans with current or ongoing criminal justice involvement. Data from two prior clinical trials attest to the program's feasibility and acceptability and preliminarily suggest participation in the program may yield meaningful improvements in risk for criminal behavior and resolution of high-priority case management needs. However, continued research is needed to further investigate the program's efficacy. This Phase III clinical trial aims to investigate the superiority of DBT-J over a supportive group therapy treatment in decreasing risk of future criminal behavior and increasing psychosocial functioning. Secondary and exploratory aims will also investigate superiority of DBT-J in improving secondary treatment targets, potential differential efficacy across special-interest Veteran subgroups, and long-term consequences of program participation.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans

Condition
Criminal Behavior
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Aurora

Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO, Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045

Bronx

James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, Bronx, New York, United States, 10468-3904

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

  • * Veteran aged 18+
  • * Able to provide consent
  • * Current or recent history of criminal justice involvement, defined as
  • * (a) criminal arrest, order of protection, or incarceration within two years prior to participation and/or
  • * (b) supervision by probation or parole at the time of participation
  • * Limited English proficiency
  • * Inability to tolerate group therapy format
  • * Enrollment in a concurrent clinical trial
  • * Current or scheduled enrollment in a DBT- or RNR-based program
  • * Prior participation in DBT-J program

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,

Emily R Edwards, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2027-10-31