Relationship Checkups to Reduce Veteran Suicide Risk

Launched by VA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT · Aug 30, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Relationship Checkups to Reduce Veteran Suicide Risk," is exploring two different ways to help Veterans who are facing both mental health issues and relationship problems. One method is called the Brief Relationship Checkup (BRC), which involves three sessions for couples and aims to improve their relationship health. The other method is the Co-Located Collaborative Care (CCC), which focuses on individual care for Veterans with mental health concerns. The main goal of the study is to understand which approach is more effective in reducing factors that could lead to suicide, both at the level of the individual and their relationship.

To participate in this trial, both partners in a committed relationship must be at least 18 years old and have been together for at least six months. One partner needs to be a Veteran enrolled in the VA system and show signs of mental health issues, while both partners should have some level of relationship distress. Participants can expect to engage in three sessions, either as a couple or individually, depending on the method assigned to them. It's important to note that certain situations, such as ongoing therapy or severe relationship problems, may prevent someone from joining the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. BOTH PARTNERS must be age 18 or over
• • 2. BOTH PARTNERS must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English and cognitive capacity to understand the study through comprehension of consent questions
• • 3. BOTH PARTNERS must self-identify as "in a committed relationship" with their partner for at least 6-months.
• • 4. AT LEAST ONE PARTNER must report at least mild relationship distress on a relationship satisfaction screen (CSI-4).
• • 5. AT LEAST ONE PARTNER must be a VHA-enrolled Veteran who screens positive on a VA Primary Care Mental Health Screen for ONE OR MORE of the following conditions: Depressed Mood, Unsafe drinking, Posttraumatic stress, or Suicidal Ideation.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. EITHER PARTNER reports that they are already engaged in ongoing couple or family therapy.
• • 2. EITHER PARTNER reports severe intimate partner violence in the last year.
• • 3. EITHER PARTNER reports ongoing or upcoming legal conflicts between one another (e.g., custody dispute; restraining order; divorce proceedings)
• • 4. EITHER PARTNER reports experiencing suicidal intent requiring hospitalization.
• • 5. EITHER PARTNER experiences past-month psychosis or mania.
• • 6. EITHER PARTNER has completed therapy with the PI, Dr. Dev Crasta, within the last 5 years.