Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Conditions
Keywords
ptsd, family, caregiver, burden
Brief summary
The proposed pilot study is designed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a mobile phone application (app) developed by the VA National Center for PTSD (VA NCPTSD) for use by family members of those with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The primary objective of the proposed study is to assess whether family members of veterans with PTSD find the PTSD Family Coach app to be satisfactory and feasible to use. Secondary objectives are to determine if use of the app increases family members' self-efficacy and their ability to manage their own life stress, which may in part be the result of living with someone who has PTSD.
Detailed description
PTSD Family Coach is a mobile phone app for family members of individuals with PTSD. This application provides: * education about PTSD * a self-assessment tool measuring life stress * self-management skills to address acute distress and stress * direct connection to support and * information about VA and community resources for family members of individuals with PTSD From this research, the investigators wish to learn whether family members of someone with PTSD find the PTSD Family Coach to be satisfactory and feasible to use. The investigators would also like to know if use of the app increases family members' knowledge of PTSD, and its treatment, and their ability to manage their own life stress, which may in part be the result of living with a Veteran with PTSD. Currently, there are very few resources for family members of Veterans with PTSD. If this research demonstrates that PTSD Family Coach is a promising tool for family members, it has the potential to address a tremendous unmet need using a very cost-effective, scalable solution.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALPTSD Family Coach Full
PTSD Family Coach mobile app is an iOS mobile phone application designed to provide information, support resources, tools for coping with caregiver-related stress, and tools for self-monitoring stress symptoms.
BEHAVIORALPTSD Family Coach Basic
PTSD Family Coach mobile app is an iOS mobile phone application designed to provide information and support resources,
Sponsors
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* currently living with a Veteran with significant PTSD symptoms * age 18 or older * own an iPhone, iPad or other iOS compatible device * currently experiencing at least moderate symptoms of stress
Exclusion criteria
* currently enrolled in another study related to PTSD
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Anxiety (GAD) | 1 month |
| Caregiver Burden (Montgomery Burden Interview) | 1 month |
| Stress (Perceived Stress Scale) | 1 month |
| Use of PTSD Family Coach Mobile App (Study-Specific Survey) | 1 month |
| Satisfaction with PTSD Family Coach Mobile App (Study-Specific Survey) | 1 month |
| Depression (PHQ-8) | 1 month |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Perceived Benefits of Mental Health Treatment for PTSD (Study-Specific Measure) | 1 month |
| Social Constraints (Social Constraints Scale) | 1 month |
| Partner Self-Efficacy (Study-Specific Measure) | 1 month |
| Veteran Interest in Treatment for PTSD (Study-Specific Measure) | 1 month |
| Stigma Associated with Seeking Mental Health Care (Study-Specific Measure) | 1 month |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed