Military to Civilian RCT of an Intervention to Promote Post-Deployment Reintegration

Abstract

This study seeks to determine whether Internet-Based Expressive Writing (IB-EW), a brief, low-cost, easily disseminated, and resource-efficient intervention, can reduce psychological symptoms and improve functioning among veterans returning from hazardous deployments. Although Expressive Writing s evidence-base is strong in civilian populations, its efficacy in combat veterans has not been tested. Nevertheless, Expressive Writing, as a highly private, readily accessible, and nonstigmatizing intervention, holds exceptional promise in overcoming barriers to mentally distressed veterans help-seeking. We expect to further increase the accessibility of the intervention by delivering it over the internet (Internet-Based Expressive Writing). Long term objectives of this line of research are to develop and implement efficient, accessible, and effective interventions that facilitate combat deployment-to-civilian life transitions, thereby reducing risk of long-term, military-related psychopathology and disability. Toward that end, the study will also attempt to identify individual difference characteristics related to the efficacy of the treatment, to indicate who is most likely to benefit from the treatment in order to inform treatment implementation strategies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA568796

Entities

People

  • Nina A Sayer
  • Robert J. Orazem

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical Research
  • Civilian Population
  • Contracts
  • Costs
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Sets
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deployment
  • Descriptive Analytics
  • Electronic Mail
  • Health
  • Information Science
  • Instructions
  • Internet
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Surveys
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.