Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05357586

The Pitt Center for Emergency Responder Wellness

Emergency responders protect the public despite occupational hazards that threaten their mental health. The Pitt Center for Emergency Responder Wellness will be a clinical innovation hub that: 1) delivers accessible interventions for promoting mental health and overall wellbeing; 2) trains the next generation of students to provide mental health care for emergency responders; and 3) informs scientific understanding of post-trauma recovery processes. Goals for the seed phase are to establish our team and collect pilot data to demonstrate feasibility and initial clinical impact.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder 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

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States

About this study

Emergency responders protect the public despite occupational hazards that threaten their mental health. This Center will be a clinical innovation hub that: 1) delivers accessible interventions for promoting mental health and overall wellbeing; 2) trains the next generation of graduate students to provide mental health care for emergency responders; and 3) informs scientific understanding of post-trauma recovery processes. Goals for the seed phase are to establish our team and collect pilot data to demonstrate feasibility and initial clinical impact. In this pilot study, the investigators will demonstrate feasibility by treating 30 eligible emergency responders (up to 60 total participants will be enrolled). The investigators will document treatment acceptability via treatment completion rates. The investigators will document treatment effects by measuring changes in mental health symptoms and quality of life. The investigators will disseminate our findings via conference presentations and manuscripts. The investigators will train graduate students in working with this specialized population.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants will be age 18 or older.
  • They will be emergency responders defined as fire fighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical service personnel, emergency room medical providers (physicians, nurses, physician assistants), emergency dispatchers, and emergency response trainees who have completed training experiences in which they encountered emergencies.
  • They must reside in Pennsylvania.

Exclusion criteria

  • Are unable or unwilling to complete the study procedures.
  • Receiving another form of therapy our counseling for anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress, or alcohol use problems. Attendance at self-help programs (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) and couples therapy is permitted.
  • Have a history of a psychotic disorder or bipolar disorder.
  • Endorse drug use and symptoms consistent with a non-alcohol substance use disorder except nicotine, caffeine, or cannabis.
  • Are experiencing a current suicidal or homicidal crisis warranting immediate intervention: potential participants may participate later once stabilized.
  • Are currently awaiting the outcome of litigation involving their employment or training as emergency responders or any other reason deemed by the study team to be potentially related to their mental health.
  • Evidence severe organic brain impairment as evidenced by a major apparent disruption of consciousness, cognition, speech, or behavior that would likely interfere with treatment.

Treatment and study plan

Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders

Behavioral

The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders is a manualized, evidence-based form of cognitive behavioral therapy aimed at targeting emotion regulation processes that underlie common forms of emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, and commonly co-occurring mental health challenges.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline to post-treatment in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

    Time frame: The PCL-5 will be administered at baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks).

    Self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity measured using the PCL-5. Scores range from 0-80, with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD symptoms.

  2. Change from baseline to follow-up in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

    Time frame: The PCL-5 will be administered at baseline and follow-up (7 months post-baseline).

    Self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity measured using the PCL-5. Scores range from 0-80, with higher scores indicating more severe PTSD symptoms.

  3. Change from baseline to post-treatment in depressive symptom measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: The PHQ-9 will be administered at baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks).

    Self-reported depression symptom severity will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 Item-Depression (PHQ-9). Scores range from 0-27, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depression symptoms.

  4. Change from baseline to follow-up in depressive symptoms measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: The PHQ-9 will be administered at baseline and follow-up (7 months post-baseline).

    Self-reported depression symptom severity will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 Item-Depression (PHQ-9). Scores range from 0-27, with higher scores indicating greater severity of depression symptoms.

  5. Change from baseline to post-treatment in anxiety symptom severity measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

    Time frame: The GAD-7 will be administered at baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks).

    Self-reported depression symptom severity measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Scores range from 0-21 with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity.

  6. Change from baseline to follow-up in anxiety symptom severity measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)

    Time frame: The GAD-7 will be administered at baseline and follow-up (7 months post-baseline).

    Self-reported depression symptom severity measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Scores range from 0-21 with higher scores indicating greater anxiety symptom severity.

  7. Change from baseline to post-treatment in alcohol misuse severity measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

    Time frame: The AUDIT will be administered at baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks).

    Self-reported alcohol misuse measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Scores range from 0-40 with higher scores indicating greater alcohol misuse.

  8. Change from baseline to follow-up in alcohol misuse severity measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)

    Time frame: The AUDIT will be administered at baseline and follow-up (7 months post-baseline).

    Self-reported alcohol misuse measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Scores range from 0-40 with higher scores indicating greater alcohol misuse.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change from baseline to post-treatment in functional impairment measured using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)

    Time frame: The WSAS will be administered at baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks).

    Self-reported functional impairment measured using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Scores range from 0-8 with higher scores indicating more severe functional impairment.

  2. Change from baseline to follow-up in functional impairment measured using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS)

    Time frame: The WSAS will be administered at baseline and follow-up (7 months post-baseline).

    Self-reported functional impairment measured using the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Scores range from 0-8 with higher scores indicating more severe functional impairment.

  3. Change from baseline to post-treatment in quality of life measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF).

    Time frame: The WHOQOL-BREF will be administered at baseline and post-treatment (up to 20 weeks).

    Self-reported quality of life measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). Scores range from 26 to 130 with higher scores indicating greater quality of life.

  4. Change from baseline to follow-up in quality of life measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF).

    Time frame: The WHOQOL-BREF will be administered at baseline and follow-up (7 months post-baseline).

    Self-reported quality of life measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF). Scores range from 26 to 130 with higher scores indicating greater quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pittsburgh

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Serving Those Who Protect the Public: The Pitt Center for Emergency Responder Wellness

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
May 3, 2022
Registry last updated
Feb 20, 2024

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.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.