Treatment for Relationships and Safety Together

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Mar 24, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, called Treatment for Relationships and Safety Together (TR&ST), is focused on finding new ways to prevent suicide, especially among U.S. military Veterans. The study recognizes that problems in romantic relationships can lead to suicidal thoughts, while satisfying relationships can help protect against them. The goal is to test a new couple-based therapy that combines strategies from existing suicide prevention methods with skills to improve relationships. The study will involve two phases: first, refining the treatment with 12 couples, and then testing it with 60 couples to see if it is more effective than standard VA suicide prevention methods.

To participate in this study, Veterans must be experiencing thoughts of suicide or have recently attempted suicide, and they need to have a partner who is willing to join them. Both partners should have been in a committed relationship for at least six months and plan to stay in the San Diego area for about seven months. Participants can expect to attend treatment sessions over an 11-week period, with assessments happening at the beginning, middle, and end of the treatment, and again three months later. This study aims to help improve not just suicidal thoughts but also the overall quality of interpersonal relationships, which is crucial for mental health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Veterans who report present suicidal ideation CSSR-S \> 2 ("Active thoughts of killing oneself") in past 1 month at phone screen and/or a suicide attempt in the prior 3 months, and
• • an intimate partner who is willing to participate.
• * Additional inclusion criteria for both Veterans and Partners include:
• • in the committed relationship for at least 6 months
• • plans to remain in the San Diego region for 7 months
• • capable of informed consent
• • agree to have assessment and treatment sessions audio recorded.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• The following are our Exclusion Criteria for both Veterans and Partners:
• • not English speaking
• • cannot complete the assessment battery
• • current substance use requiring immediate detoxification or outpatient plan directed specifically to residential substance use disorder (not mental health) services
• • has or meets criteria for a current diagnosis of psychosis and/or mania in either member of the couple
• • under conservatorship requiring proxy consent
• • any perpetration of severe physical or sexual relationship aggression in the past year (as assessed by the CTS-2)