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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00530985

Preserving Function Among Disability Applicants

To test the hypothesis that veterans counseled around managing their benefits will work more and have a better quality of life than those receiving non-specific counseling.

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Key information

Conditions

Disability Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

VA Connecticut Health Care System (West Haven)

West Haven, Connecticut, 06516, United States

About this study

The aim is to develop and test the efficacy of Benefits Counseling to improve quality of life among veterans who apply for VA benefits. Benefits Counseling involves providing claimants information about rehabilitation and work-related activities, benefits determination and management, and available substance abuse treatment . Benefits Counseling is designed to increase motivation to be active and promote engagement in substance abuse treatment. After enrolling 15 participants in an open-label pilot phase, 300 veterans who are not receiving benefits and are applying to VBA for disability benefits will be randomly assigned to Benefits Counseling or the control condition, VA Orientation, and both groups will be followed for one year.

The primary outcome measures will be observer-rated and self-rated quality of life. Secondary outcome measures will include substance use and treatment utilization.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Applying for VA service connection and not currently receiving VBA benefits.
  • Veterans who have been rated 0% service-connected but do not receive financial benefits are eligible to participate.
  • Able to provide valid consent
  • Age 18-65
  • Expresses willingness to discuss benefits with a counselor
  • Anticipates difficulty working

Exclusion criteria

  • Already receiving VA payments
  • Already receiving SSI or SSDI
  • Has a conservator

Treatment and study plan

Benefits Counseling

Behavioral

Help deciding whether to work

VA Orientation

Behavioral

Orientation to services available at VA

Primary outcomes

  1. Days engaged in work and work-related activities

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. substance use (as measured by days having used illicit drugs, alcohol to intoxication in the preceding days)

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. treatment utilization (days in last 30 having participated in rehabilitation and work-related activities, number of days having participated in non-inpatient substance abuse treatment, number of days on any inpatient unit)

    Time frame: 6 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

US Department of Veterans Affairs

Fed

Registry information

Official study title

Preserving Function Among Disability Applicants: A Motivational Enhancement Approach to Benefits Counseling

Important dates

Study start
2007
Primary completion
2009
Study completion
2009
First posted
Sep 18, 2007
Registry last updated
Jul 2, 2009

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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