NCT04234815.
| Study name | Evaluating impacts of CSS for veterans and their families in Ukraine |
| Methods |
Study design: cluster‐RCT Country: Ukraine |
| Participants | Adult veterans in Ukraine or an adult family member of a veteran Inclusion criteria: a. Ukrainian adults (age 18 or older) who are veterans of the anti‐terrorist operations (ATO) in Ukraine or an adult family member of a veteran; b. meets a minimum total problem score on the locally validated screener indicative of at least moderate symptoms of distress. Exclusion criteria: a. identify as ATO veterans but are still active (i.e. active duty) in the Ukrainian military; b. arrive late to the workshop, operationalized as not having time to participate in the self‐assessment review, will be excluded. In online workshops, late‐arriving participants will be redirected to a waiting room, where they will be encouraged to attend a future session instead (and if so, could be included in the study). For in‐person workshops, due to travel and other efforts required for attendance, late arriving participants will be allowed to join the workshop, but excluded from the study due to lacking sufficient exposure. They can also choose to attend a future workshop, but if attending a portion of an initial workshop would remain study ineligible because they could potentially be exposed to both arms of the study; c. identified by service providers as needing higher‐level care rather than outpatient psychotherapy will be immediately referred to that care and excluded from the study. This exclusion criterion refers to imminent danger to self or others that requires urgent safety procedures and institution‐based mental health care. Stated purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief, single‐session psychosocial workshop, "CETA Short Session" (CSS), for reducing symptoms of distress and functional impairment and increasing treatment engagement amongst conflict veterans and their families in Ukraine |
| Interventions |
Intervention: CETA Short Session (CSS) CETA Short Session (CSS) is a brief, low‐intensity psychosocial intervention incorporating foundational components of the Common Elements Treatment Approach (CETA). CETA is an 8‐12 session, transdiagnostic psychotherapy for common mental disorders. CSS was designed to serve as both a prevention/support approach for a broader range of needs, and an engagement/outreach strategy to identify and refer individuals to treatment. For this study, a single‐session, 1.5‐2 hour group workshop that includes psychoeducation, self‐assessment, safety screening, and training in cognitive coping was applied. Participants with at least moderate symptoms of distress will also receive a follow‐up phone call to discuss next steps occurring within one week after workshop attendance. On this phone call, they will also be asked about their use of the cognitive coping skill over the last week, and provided feedback if using it incorrectly. Control: Enhanced Treatment‐as‐Usual (eTAU) A single‐session, approximately 1‐hour group workshop that includes the same psychoeducation, self‐assessment, and safety screening as the experimental condition, but no training in cognitive coping. This intervention is the same as CSS with the exception that the cognitive coping skill training is removed. Participants with at least moderate symptoms of distress will also receive a follow‐up phone call to discuss next steps occurring within one week after workshop attendance. |
| Outcomes |
Participants'outcomes of interest for this review
Economic outcomes Nil Time points: baseline, post‐intervention (1‐month follow‐up) |
| Starting date | 28 February 2020 |
| Contact information | Sergiy Bogdanov, s.bogdanov@ukma.edu.ua |
| Notes |
Source of funding: not specified Prospective trial registration number: NCT04234815 |