Anger Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Conditions
Interventions
Participants will be randomised via stratified block randomisation. Following screening participants identified as eligible to take part in the study will be randomised to one of two groups: the inter
the behaviour is repeated, it is an automatic response and that it is cued by stable contexts, and that through this repetition a habit is formed and reinforced (Orbell & Verplanken, 2010). The interv
Sponsors
University of Exeter
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Armed forces veterans from the UK or members of the general population who report elevated levels of anger represented by a score of =75 on the NAS-PI provocation subscale (Novaco, 2003). This measure has been selected as it identifies individuals experiencing levels of anger that are higher than those experienced in a general population which is indicative of problematic anger 2. Aged 18+ 3. Individuals who have accessed the Help for Heroes Hidden Wounds service or community based advertising and who screen as eligible for inclusion in the study 4. Participants will primarily be armed forces veterans as described under the British definition of a veteran ‘Those who have served for at least one day in HM Armed Forces, whether as a regular or reservist’ (Ministry of Defence, 2013). With members of the general public recruited as necessary to meet recruitment targets as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria 5. In addition to this the participants must be able to understand written English and have access to a private internet connection to ensure they are able to give informed consent, engage with the intervention and ensure their confidentiality when engaging with the intervention Updated 26/03/2018: A DAR score of =23 will be used rather than the NAS-PI.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Participants will be excluded from the study if: 1. They are actively serving members of the armed forces 2. Under the age of 18 3. They report elevated symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder checklist (PCL; Weathers, Litz, Keane, Palmieri, Marx, Schnurr, 2013) indicated by a score of =50 (the recommended cut off score) 4. They report suicidal ideation measured using the PHQ-9 (Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001) question 9 and risk protocol follow up questions 5. They report moderately severe levels of depression on the PHQ-9 (Kroenke, Spitzer & Williams, 2001)
Design outcomes
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Depression, measured using PHQ-9 at baseline, final module, 12 weeks and 3 months follow-up 2. Anger, measured using NAS-PI at baseline, final module, 12 weeks and 3 months follow-up 3. PTSD symptomatology, measured using PCL at baseline, 12 weeks and 3 months follow-up 4. Anger, measured using DAR in each intervention module and final module Updated 26/03/2018: The DAR will now be used to measure levels of anger throughout the study. | — |
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The feasibility and acceptability of data collection procedures, levels of attrition, effect size and the acceptability of the unguided anger intervention will be measured to aid planning for a fully powered, definitive, phase III trial: 1. The feasibility of data collection procedures is assessed by measuring the missing items on the clinical outcome measures, the number and timing of drop-outs and whether these vary across arms 2. The acceptability of the intervention is assessed using a behavioural index measuring the number of modules completed, the time spent logged into the site and which modules are completed more easily or frequently than others | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactLuke O'Shea
Outcome results
None listed