The Veteran Caregiver Reducing Stress Time (VetCareReST) Study (VetCareReST)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02852174
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: August 2, 2016
• Last Update Posted: May 1, 2018
• Sponsor: Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Study Description

Brief Summary:

Caring for a disabled adult, particularly those with long-lasting impairment, has been associated with elevated levels of stress, depression and anxiety among caregivers.Recent studies show that veteran caregivers experience higher levels of psychological distress than caregivers in the general population, highlighting the psychological needs of this population. The Veteran Caregiver Reducing Stress Time (VetCareReST) is a randomized control trial designed to test the effectiveness of a mindfulness at reducing stress, depression and anxiety in veteran caregivers in Champaign and Danville County.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Stress, Depression, Anxiety and Worry	Behavioral: Mindfulness meditation training	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Recent estimates indicate that there are 275,000 to one million informal veteran caregivers. Caring for a disabled adult, particularly those with long-lasting impairment, has been associated with elevated levels of stress, depression and anxiety among caregivers. Veteran caregivers are especially vulnerable because of competing demands. For instance, Post 9/11 veteran caregivers are more likely to be the spouse of a veteran, and have experienced the stress of multiple deployments, have a young child in their care, and work outside the home. Recent studies show that veteran caregivers experience higher levels of psychological distress than caregivers in the general population, highlighting the psychological needs of this population. One effective approach at reducing stress, depression and anxiety has been the use of mindfulness training, which has been shown to effectively reduce mood symptoms among professional caregivers. The Veteran Caregiver Reducing Stress Time (VetCareReST) is a randomized control trial designed to test the effectiveness of a mindfulness at reducing stress, depression and anxiety in veteran caregivers in Champaign and Danville County. This study builds on Dr. Lara-Cinisomo's (PI) experience with military spouses. The findings from this trial will serve as pilot data for a large-scale study.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 30 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Wounded Warrior Caregivers
• Actual Study Start Date: May 2016
• Actual Primary Completion Date: November 2017
• Actual Study Completion Date: November 2017

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Mindfulness group; The treatment groups will participate in a mindfulness intervention training that will meet for 2 hours once a week for eight weeks. The 8-week program provides participants with 2-hour weekly instruction designed to teach specific skills and how to apply them during stressful situations (e.g., when caring for or advocating for the veteran).Mindfulness training also requires that participants engage in daily home practice for 30 to 40 minutes. Participants will be required to record the duration of the meditation in log sheets.	Behavioral: Mindfulness meditation training; Mindfulness meditation training
No Intervention: Control; Participants in the control may receive the mindfulness training after the wait period ends at which point they may receive the treatment as described above.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Stress [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]
   Perceived levels of stress

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Depressed mood [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]
   Depressive symptoms

Other Outcome Measures:

1. Anxiety [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]
   Anxious symptoms
2. Worry [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ]
   Worried feelings

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Provide unpaid caregiver or support to a veteran
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Willing to participate for the duration of the project
• Able to track his/her home practice in a handwritten log
• Have no significant psychiatric disorders other than depression or anxiety (e.g., bipolar disorder, substance abuse, actively suicidal)

Exclusion Criteria:

• The presence of significant psychiatric disorders other than depression or anxiety (e.g., bipolar disorder, substance abuse, actively suicidal)

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois, United States, 61820

Sponsors and Collaborators

Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo

More Information

• Responsible Party: Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02852174
• Other Study ID Numbers: 16648
• First Posted: August 2, 2016
• Last Update Posted: May 1, 2018
• Last Verified: April 2018

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Depression; Behavioral Symptoms