Clinical trial NCT02852174: The Veteran Caregiver Reducing Stress Time (VetCareReST) Study
Official title: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Wounded Warrior Caregivers
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Stress, Depression, Anxiety and Worry
Lead sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2016-08-02
Enrollment: 30
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

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.

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.

Eligibility 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)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Stress
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Depressed mood
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Other outcomes:
measure: Anxiety
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Worry
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Locations:
city: Champaign
country: United States
facility: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
state: Illinois
Study officials:
References: