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

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Wounded Warrior 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.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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress, Depression, Anxiety and Worry
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Mindfulness meditation training

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 Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Champaign, Illinois, United States, 61820
      • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

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)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stress	Perceived levels of stress	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Depressed mood	Depressive symptoms	8 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Anxiety	Anxious symptoms	8 weeks
Worry	Worried feelings	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 28, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 1, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): August 2, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavioral Symptoms; Depression
• Other Study ID Numbers: 16648