Residential Retreat for Veterans and First-responders

Examining the Efficacy and Feasibility of a Residential Retreat Program for PTSD in First-responders and Veterans: A Non-randomized Controlled Study

The purpose of this study is to determine the potential efficacy and feasibility of a residential retreat program to address PTSD symptoms in Veterans and First-responders

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: PTSD
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: psychoeducation

Detailed Description

After obtaining written consent, participants will complete their program as they had previously intended. Each wave of the residential retreat program will last 5 days. During the program, participants will complete the study questionnaires. They will complete these questionnaires again 1 month after the completion of the program. As a control, individuals completing the program in the online format will also be asked to provide written consent and will complete the questionnaires during the program and 1-month after its completion.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 70

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Pouria Saffaran, Bsc; Phone Number: 647-895-7474; Email: pouria.saffaran@alum.utoronto.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario, Canada, L0S 1J0
      • Recruiting
      • Valhalla Project Niagara
      • Contact: Pouria Saffaran, Bsc; Phone Number: 647-895-7474; Email: pouria.saffaran@alum.utoronto.ca
      • Contact: Graham Bettes; Phone Number: 289-2597758; Email: grahambettes@hotmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

These are individuals who are veterans of the military of first-responders, who have also been diagnosed with PTSD.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of PTSD, being a military veteran or first-responder, awareness of treating physician about program attendance

Exclusion Criteria:

• None

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Residential Cohort; Those completing the program in a residential context	Other: psychoeducation; The program consists of psychoeducational material regarding PTSD, demonstration of various stress management techniques, and social cohesion activities; Other Names: demonstration of stress management techniques; social cohesion activities
Online Cohort; Those completing the program online	Other: psychoeducation; The program consists of psychoeducational material regarding PTSD, demonstration of various stress management techniques, and social cohesion activities; Other Names: demonstration of stress management techniques; social cohesion activities

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Symptom Management of PTSD Using the Perceived Medical Condition Self-Management Scale	determining the potential efficacy of the residential program for improving symptom management. The scale is adapted to reflect participants management of their PTSD symptoms. Score ranges from 8 to 40. Higher scores indicate better management.	1-month after completion of the program
Drop-out rate in the Residential Program	Determining the extent of treatment drop-out in the Residential Program	at the end of the 5-day residential program for the residential cohort
Symptoms of PTSD Indicated by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 scale.	determining the potential efficacy of the residential program for improving PTSD symptoms. Scores range from 0 to 80. Higher scores indicate more symptoms of PTSD.	1-month after completion of the program
Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Functioning Using the Brief Inventory of Psychosocial Functioning (B-IPF)	determining the potential efficacy of the residential program for improving interpersonal and intrapersonal functioning (e.g., relationship with family, ability to manage daily tasks, etc.). Scores range from 0 to 42. Higher scores indicate more problems and lower functioning.	1-month after the completion of the program
Drop-out rate in the Online Program	Determining the extent of treatment drop-out in the Online Program	at the end of the 2 month online program for the online cohort.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Valhalla Project Niagara
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jaan Reitav, PhD, C.Psych, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): March 27, 2022
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): November 21, 2022
• Study Completion (Anticipated): November 21, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 3, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): April 5, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 5, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2022
• Last Verified: March 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 2650

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED
• IPD Plan Description: De-identified data may be available upon request by other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No