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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT06290778

Peer Delivered, Emotion Regulation-Focused Mental Health Prevention Training for Fire Fighter Trainees

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a peer-delivered emotion regulation training (Brief-Unified Protocol) workshop is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms in firefighter trainees. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower PTSD symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation? * Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower AUD, depression, anxiety, and functional impairment symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation? * Do changes in neuroticism or emotion regulation mediate the effect of receiving the Brief-Unified Protocol on the treatment outcomes?

Participants will:

* Participate in a Brief-Unified Protocol workshop or psychoeducation workshop during fire academy training. * Complete a questionnaire prior to the workshop. * Complete a questionnaire immediately following the workshop and follow up questionnaires at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after completing the fire academy.

Researchers will compare firefighters who receive a peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol workshop to firefighters who receive peer-delivered psychoeducation to see if the Brief-Unified Protocol is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms.

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Key information

Conditions

PTSD Alcohol Use Disorder Alcohol-Related Disorders Alcoholism Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Chemically-Induced Disorders Depression Mental Disorders Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Substance-Related Disorders Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

21 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

MacArthur Clinic

Waco, Texas, 76708, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • 21 years of age or older
  • English speaking
  • Able to sign an informed consent form
  • Able to complete the self-report assessment
  • Willing to be contacted to complete post and follow-up assessments

Exclusion criteria

  • Pregnant
  • Have plans to relocate within two months of protocol initiation
  • Report psychotic symptoms or suicidal behavior within the past 2 weeks
  • Are currently dependent on substances other than tobacco or caffeine

Treatment and study plan

Brief Unified Protocol

Behavioral

The Brief Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders Unified Protocol.

Psychoeducation

Behavioral

Psychoeducation regarding mental health challenges in fire service.

Primary outcomes

  1. PTSD Symptoms

    Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

    PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5). Score Range: 0-80. Higher scores indicate greater severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Alcohol Use Disorder symptoms

    Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

    Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Score Range: 0-40. Higher scores indicate a higher likelihood of alcohol dependence.

  2. Depression symptoms

    Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

    Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Score Range: 0-27. Higher scores indicate greater severity.

  3. Anxiety symptoms

    Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Score Range: 0-21. Higher scores indicate greater severity.

  4. Functional Impairment

    Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

    Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Score Range: 0-40. Higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Baylor Research Institute

Other

Collaborators

  • Boston University
  • Texas A&M University
  • University of Pittsburgh

Registry information

Acronym: PEER UP

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Mar 4, 2024
Registry last updated
Feb 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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