Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans
Recruiting · NCT05897021 · Interventional (participants receive a specific treatment) · Lead sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
View the official record on ClinicalTrials.gov →Interventions studied
What this trial is about
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.
Who can take part
Inclusion criteria
- Participants will be Veterans who:
- 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 that is contributing to distress on phone screening
- be stable on psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks if on a psychotropic medication
Exclusion criteria
- The exclusion criteria for Veterans in this study are:
- 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
Where it is running
2 locations listed across 1 US state.
- VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA - Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA - Boston, Massachusetts, United States