The purpose of this study is to evaluate a mobile phone app designed to help Veterans with PTSD. Participants in this study will be randomized to receive one of 2 possible mobile phone apps. The term "randomized" means that which app a participant receives will not be based on any characteristic or behavior of the participant, but will be determined solely by chance like a flip of a coin.
Participants will receive access to the mobile app "PTSD Coach". Participants will be randomized (by computerized coin flip) to one of two versions of the mobile app. All versions of the app will provide comprehensive information and tools for managing trauma symptoms, but one version of the app will provide personalized, confidential coaching messages delivered by either a Veteran peer or clinical psychologist. Participants will be asked to complete an online survey before using the mobile phone application and again 8 weeks later. Participants will be provided with the option to complete a telephone interview after 8 weeks of using the mobile phone application. To be eligible, participants must be a U.S. military Veteran, age 18 or older, have received a previous diagnosis of PTSD, and own an iPhone or iPad device.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
101
All coaching messages will be based on how each participant responds to baseline survey questionnaires and how they interact with the experimental mobile phone application during the course of the study. Participants will be provided with feedback about recent progress \& use of the app, information about coping strategies provided by the app, and a recommendation for making the best use of the app over the subsequent few days.
Mobile phone application providing extensive information about PTSD and treatment, tools for managing PTSD symptoms, self-monitoring using the PTSD Checklist, and resources for obtaining support.
VA Palo Alto Health Care System Menlo Park Division
Menlo Park, California, United States
PTSD Checklist 5
Measures symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
Time frame: 8 weeks
Functional Well-Being
Measures functional well-being of Veterans across a number of domains, including self-care, romantic relationships, work, family functioning, and parenting. Subscale scores will be aggregated to create a summary score for this measure.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Engagement with the Application
Objectively-measured engagement with the intervention (# sessions)
Time frame: 8 weeks
Self-Efficacy for Coping
Self-efficacy for managing symptoms of PTSD using an author-constructed outcome measure.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Perceived Helpfulness of Intervention
How helpful the intervention was for providing information and tools for managing PTSD.
Time frame: 8 weeks
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