Forholdstjek for at reducere selvmordsrisiko for veteraner (BRC RCT)

Couples in the experimental condition will participate in three joint sessions of the Brief Relationship Checkup (BRC; Cordova 2014; Cigrang et al., 2016). This program has been tested in Air Force Primary Care but has not been explored in Veterans with ongoing mental health issues and has not been compared to an active treatment.

The investigators are using the three 30-minute session protocol developed for Air Force Primary Care (Cigrang et al., 2016). Although it is simply referred to as the "Marriage Checkup" in that manuscript, the investigators use the name BRC to distinguish it from many other versions of Dr. James Cordova's Marriage Checkup (Cordova, 2014) adapted for different settings. Sessions in this version are briefer than other versions (30 mins vs. 60-90 mins) and this trial does not have any eligibility restrictions based on marital status.

• Ægteskabstjek; Forholdskontrol

The comparison condition will be three sessions of Co-Located Collaborative Care (CCC) offered to the Screened Veteran only. This reflects the current standard of care in VA Primary Care Mental Health.

The investigators are using the Co-Located Collaborative Care model developed by the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare to deliver at all VAs. Although the CCC model is flexible and can range from 1-6 sessions, in this study the investigators standardize the model to three sessions for a clear comparison with BRC. Session 1 uses the CCC "Functional Assessment"/"Initial Assessment" protocol. Sessions 2 & 3 use the CCC Follow-up protocol.

Session 1 (25-30 min)- Veteran completes a functional assessment of concerns (15 mins) and then develops a personalized action plan (10 minutes) Session 2 (25-30 min)- Veteran's progress addressing concerns is assessed (5 mins) and the remainder of the session is spend updating the action plan (20 minutes) Session 3 (25-30 min)- Veteran's progress addressing concerns is assessed (5 mins) and the remainder of the session is spend updating the action plan, including receiving referrals (20 minutes)

• Adfærdssundhedskonsultation

Relationship Functioning will be measured using the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI). The self-report scale has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 161 with higher scores representing more satisfying relationships and scores < 104.5 classified as "distressed." The CSI is widely used in couple therapy research and is used routinely in VA care to evaluate Veterans' progress in evidence-based couple therapies. Analyses will compare relationship functioning across both Screened Veterans and their Partners using 3-level multilevel models with waves of assessment (Level 1) nested within individual partners (Level 2) nested within couples (Level 3). Treatment efficacy is defined as the gains in satisfaction being significantly greater in one arm than the other (p<.05).

Relationship Functioning will be measured using the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI). The self-report scale has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 161 with higher scores representing more satisfying relationships and scores < 104.5 classified as "distressed." The CSI is widely used in couple therapy research and is used routinely in VA care to evaluate Veterans' progress in evidence-based couple therapies. Analyses will compare relationship functioning across both Screened Veterans and their Partners using 3-level multilevel models with waves of assessment (Level 1) nested within individual partners (Level 2) nested within couples (Level 3).

Emotional Intimacy will be measured using the Perceived Responsiveness & Insensitivity Scale (PRI). The PRI has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 80. The PRI is an optimized measure of "Perceived Partner Responsiveness," a model of emotional intimacy that is widely used in the field to understand whether partners see one another as understanding/caring. Analyses will compare responsiveness across both Screened Veterans and their Partners using 3-level multilevel models with waves of assessment (Level 1) nested within individual partners (Level 2) nested within couples (Level 3). Treatment efficacy is defined as the gains in intimacy being significantly greater in one arm than the other (p<.05).

Emotional Intimacy will be measured using the Perceived Responsiveness & Insensitivity Scale (PRI). The PRI has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 80. The PRI is an optimized measure of "Perceived Partner Responsiveness," a model of emotional intimacy that is widely used in the field to understand whether partners see one another as understanding/caring. Analyses will compare responsiveness across both Screened Veterans and their Partners using 3-level multilevel models with waves of assessment (Level 1) nested within individual partners (Level 2) nested within couples (Level 3).

Treatment engagement in mental health services will be assessed through a review of the electronic medical record over each of the following windows: 1) 180-day period prior to baseline session; 2) during the treatment period from baseline to post-treatment, 3) the 180-day period after the post-treatment assessment. Over each window, staff will review appointments (e.g., individual, group, assessments), consults placed (e.g., General Mental Health; MST coordinator); and new prescriptions. Analyses will compare treatment engagement using 2-level multilevel models with assessment periods (Level 1) nested within Screened Veterans (Level 2). Their partners may or may not have VA electronic medical records, but available partner data will be used as a covariate. Treatment efficacy is defined as the Screened Veterans' treatment engagement being significantly greater in one arm than the other after accounting for treatment utilization prior to baseline (p<.05).

Depression will be measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). This self-report scale has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 27 with higher scores representing greater number and frequency of depression symptoms and scores of 10 or higher representing moderate depression. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Posttraumatic symptom will be measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5). This self-report scale has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 80 with higher scores representing more extreme symptoms and scores of 33 or higher representing probable PTSD. The PCL-5 is used routinely in VA care to evaluate Veterans' progress in long-term PTSD treatment. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Depression will be measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). This self-report scale has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 27 with higher scores representing greater number and frequency of depression symptoms and scores of 10 or higher representing moderate depression. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Posttraumatic symptom will be measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5). This self-report scale has a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 80 with higher scores representing more extreme symptoms and scores of 33 or higher representing probable PTSD. The PCL-5 is used routinely in VA care to evaluate Veterans' progress in long-term PTSD treatment. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Alcohol use over the study will be monitored using a 30-day "Timeline Follow Back" protocol (TLFB). In this "semi-structured interview," the interviewer helps participants recollect on which days they drank and how many drinks they had each day. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Alcohol use over the study will be monitored using a 30-day "Timeline Follow Back" protocol (TLFB). In this "semi-structured interview," the interviewer helps participants recollect on which days they drank and how many drinks they had each day. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Suicide ideation over the study will be monitored using the "Last Month" version of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS). This semi-structured interview has interviewers rate suicide ideation on a scale of 0 to 5, with scores of 3-5 placing individuals at high risk for attempt. VA hospitals use the C-SSRS across all clinics. In cases where participants miss an assessment, the investigators will review the chart to identify a C-SSRS close to the target date. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.

Suicide ideation over the study will be monitored using the "Last Month" version of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS). This semi-structured interview has interviewers rate suicide ideation on a scale of 0 to 5, with scores of 3-5 placing individuals at high risk for attempt. VA hospitals use the C-SSRS across all clinics. In cases where participants miss an assessment, the investigators will review the chart to identify a C-SSRS close to the target date. Exploratory analyses will calculate 95% confidence intervals to compare Screened Veteran trajectories across the two study arms.