Clinical trial NCT02857751: Evaluation of Outcomes Following Surf Therapy
Official title: Evaluation of Health Outcomes Following the NMCSD Surf Therapy Program
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Depression
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Keywords: depression
PTSD
anxiety
surf therapy
Lead sponsor: United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego
Sponsor class: FED
Collaborators: name: Naval Health Research Center
First posted: 2016-08-05
Enrollment: 75
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: The sample will consist of up to 75 active-duty service members (male or female) who are seeking surf therapy through the WII Wellness Program at NMCSD. As the study is being implemented into standard care, the current study is designed to have broad eligibility criteria.

Brief summary: The current study evaluates psychological and physical health outcomes for active-duty service members following participation in an established surf therapy program. Participants complete assessments before and after the surf therapy program, as well as brief assessments before and after each surf therapy session.

Detailed description: The proposed study would evaluate whether an existing surf therapy program that is part of the Wounded, Ill, and Injured (WII) Wellness Program at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD), significantly reduces both psychological symptoms (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety, negative affect, lack of positive affect) and physical symptoms (e.g., pain, sleep) among active-duty service members. Psychological and physical symptoms will be assessed before beginning the surf program and at program completion. In addition, brief assessments of mood and symptoms will be completed before and after each individual surf therapy session.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Active-duty military service members seeking surf therapy at NMCSD and have been medically cleared to participate
* Diagnosis of either a psychological (e.g., PTSD, depression) or physical (e.g., amputated limb; traumatic brain injury) condition that served as a reason for referral

Exclusion Criteria:

* Service members who cannot receive medical clearance to participate in the NMCSD surf therapy program
* Service members who have previously participated in the NMCSD surf therapy program

Primary outcomes:
measure: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8)
timeFrame: From pre- to post-program (e.g., approximately 6-8 weeks)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8)
timeFrame: From pre- to post-program (e.g., approximately 6-8 weeks)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: San Diego
country: United States
facility: Naval Medical Center San Diego
state: California
Study officials:
affiliation: United States Naval Medical Center, San Diego
name: Betty Michalewicz-Kragh, M.S.
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Walter, K. H., Otis, N. P., Ray, T. N., Powell, A. L., Glassman, L. H., Michalewicz-Kragh, B., & Thomsen, C. J. (2019). Breaking the Surface: Psychological Outcomes among U.S. active duty service members following a surf therapy program. Psychology of Sport and Exercise. doi: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101551
citation: Otis, N. P., Walter, K. H., Glassman, L. H., Ray, T. N., Michalewicz-Kragh, B., & Thomsen, C. J. (2020). Effects of PTSD and MDD comorbidity on psychological changes during surf therapy sessions for active duty service members. Special Issue of Global Journal of Community Psychology and Practice on Surf Therapy. https://www.gjcpp.org/en/article.php?issue=36&article=210
citation: Glassman LH, Otis NP, Michalewicz-Kragh B, Walter KH. Gender Differences in Psychological Outcomes Following Surf Therapy Sessions among U.S. Service Members. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Apr 27;18(9):4634. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18094634.