Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a mobile phone app designed to help Veterans with PTSD. Participants in this study will be randomized to receive one of 2 possible mobile phone apps. The term randomized means that which app a participant receives will not be based on any characteristic or behavior of the participant, but will be determined solely by chance like a flip of a coin.
Detailed description
Participants will receive access to the mobile app PTSD Coach. Participants will be randomized (by computerized coin flip) to one of two versions of the mobile app. All versions of the app will provide comprehensive information and tools for managing trauma symptoms, but one version of the app will provide personalized, confidential coaching messages delivered by either a Veteran peer or clinical psychologist. Participants will be asked to complete an online survey before using the mobile phone application and again 8 weeks later. Participants will be provided with the option to complete a telephone interview after 8 weeks of using the mobile phone application. To be eligible, participants must be a U.S. military Veteran, age 18 or older, have received a previous diagnosis of PTSD, and own an iPhone or iPad device.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALPersonalized App Coaching
All coaching messages will be based on how each participant responds to baseline survey questionnaires and how they interact with the experimental mobile phone application during the course of the study. Participants will be provided with feedback about recent progress & use of the app, information about coping strategies provided by the app, and a recommendation for making the best use of the app over the subsequent few days.
BEHAVIORALActive Comparator
Mobile phone application providing extensive information about PTSD and treatment, tools for managing PTSD symptoms, self-monitoring using the PTSD Checklist, and resources for obtaining support.
Sponsors
VA Palo Alto Health Care System
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Intervention model description
Participants are randomized to receive one of 2 forms of the mobile phone application being tested in this study: with and without personalized coaching. Among those who receive coaching, participants will receive either peer-based coaching messages, clinician-based coaching messages, or automated messages.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* U.S. military Veteran * age 18 or older * previously diagnosed with PTSD * own an iPhone or iPad device
Exclusion criteria
* no previous history of PTSD
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| PTSD Checklist 5 | 8 weeks | Measures symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder |
| Functional Well-Being | 8 weeks | Measures functional well-being of Veterans across a number of domains, including self-care, romantic relationships, work, family functioning, and parenting. Subscale scores will be aggregated to create a summary score for this measure. |
| Engagement with the Application | 8 weeks | Objectively-measured engagement with the intervention (# sessions) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Efficacy for Coping | 8 weeks | Self-efficacy for managing symptoms of PTSD using an author-constructed outcome measure. |
| Perceived Helpfulness of Intervention | 8 weeks | How helpful the intervention was for providing information and tools for managing PTSD. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed