180 Participants Needed

OurRelationship Program for Relationship Distress

(VA-OR Trial)

KC
Leslie A. Morland, PsyD profile photo
Overseen ByLeslie A. Morland, PsyD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)
Approved in 1 JurisdictionThis treatment is already approved in other countries

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on relationship distress and does not mention medication requirements.

What data supports the effectiveness of the OurRelationship treatment for relationship distress?

Research shows that the OurRelationship program, including its online version, can improve quality of life, work functioning, and perceived health for individuals experiencing relationship distress. Additionally, the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), a component of the treatment, has been effective in improving communication skills and reducing marital distress.12345

Is the OurRelationship Program safe for participants?

The OurRelationship Program and similar relationship education programs like PREP and Within My Reach have been studied for their effects on relationship skills and outcomes. Participants generally report high satisfaction and improvements in communication and relationship quality, with no significant safety concerns noted in the studies.23567

How is the OurRelationship treatment different from other treatments for relationship distress?

The OurRelationship treatment is unique because it focuses on teaching couples skills like conflict resolution and communication to prevent and manage relationship distress, rather than just treating it after it occurs. It emphasizes building intimacy, commitment, and friendship, which can help protect against future crises and improve relationship satisfaction over time.35689

What is the purpose of this trial?

Access to a flexible spectrum of family-based VA mental health care for Veterans is mandated by law. Research shows that relationship distress harms Veterans' mental health, physical health, and mortality, while healthy relationships provide resilience and facilitate recovery from illness. However, there are many barriers to accessing couple and family care within VA, including system-level barriers such as insufficient access to specialty providers and couple-level barriers such as difficulty coordinating schedules and finding childcare. OurRelationship is an evidence-based, coached online intervention for couples that provides flexible, accessible, and scalable treatment to improve relationship functioning. This proposed CDA-2 project will test whether OurRelationship is effective for improving Veterans' intimate relationships and supporting their rehabilitation. This study supports the mission of the 2018-2024 Strategic Plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs by improving Veterans' relationship functioning to enhance their overall quality of life.

Research Team

KC

Kayla C. Knopp, PhD

Principal Investigator

VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Veteran couples experiencing relationship distress. Eligible participants are Veterans and their partners who have been together for at least a year, speak English, and report significant relationship issues. They must have internet access and be willing to participate in online sessions. Couples with recent substance abuse, severe mental health disorders, cognitive impairments, or high-risk suicidal behavior are excluded.

Inclusion Criteria

Couples must be married, living together, or in a relationship for at least 12 months
Couples must both speak, read, and write English
We have reliable internet for online programs and telehealth visits.
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Exclusion Criteria

Neither my partner nor I have been hospitalized for suicide-related reasons in the past year.
Neither my partner nor I have uncontrolled bipolar or psychotic symptoms.
Couples will be excluded if either partner reports a diagnosis of severe cognitive impairment or intellectual disability (by self-report)
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Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Waitlist Control

Couples assigned to the Waitlist Control condition will begin the OurRelationship program following a 2-month delay after random assignment

8 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the OurRelationship program, which includes eight hours of a self-paced online couples' program with three 20-minute telehealth coaching sessions

8 weeks
3 telehealth coaching sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for relationship and individual functioning improvements, with data collected at baseline, mid-program, post-program, and a 6-month follow-up

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • OurRelationship
Trial Overview The 'OurRelationship' program is being tested to see if it can improve intimate relationships among Veterans by providing an evidence-based online intervention that's flexible and accessible. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of this coached program in supporting Veterans' rehabilitation and enhancing life quality.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Waitlist ControlExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Couples assigned to the Waitlist Control condition will begin the OurRelationship program following a 2-month delay after random assignment.
Group II: Immediate TreatmentExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Couples assigned to the Immediate Treatment condition will begin the OurRelationship program immediately following random assignment.

OurRelationship is already approved in United States for the following indications:

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Approved in United States as OurRelationship Intervention (ORI) for:
  • Marriage and relationship education/skills
  • Marriage enhancement
  • Divorce reduction
  • Job and career advancement

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

VA Office of Research and Development

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,691
Recruited
3,759,000+

Findings from Research

The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) significantly improved communication skills and relationship quality among 321 lower-income and racial/ethnic minority couples, demonstrating its effectiveness in enhancing relationship functioning.
Couples who participated in PREP in a couple format experienced better outcomes in relationship quality compared to those in a group format, suggesting that the delivery method can influence the effectiveness of relationship interventions.
The effectiveness of PREP with lower-income racial/ethnic minority couples.Owen, J., Quirk, K., Bergen, C., et al.[2022]
The web-based relationship intervention for individuals (OR-I) showed significant improvements in quality of life, work functioning, and perceived health among participants compared to a waitlist control group, indicating its efficacy in enhancing individual well-being.
While OR-I did not lead to significant improvements in relationship functioning or symptoms of depression and anxiety, it maintained benefits in quality of life and perceived health over a short-term follow-up, suggesting it could be a valuable option for those unable to engage in traditional couple therapy.
The Online OurRelationship Program for Relationally Distressed Individuals: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Nowlan, KM., Roddy, MK., Doss, BD.[2020]
The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) significantly improved communication skills among couples, leading to higher positive and lower negative communication levels at the 5-year follow-up.
Couples who participated in PREP also reported lower levels of marital violence compared to those in the control group, highlighting the program's effectiveness in promoting healthier relationships.
Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training: a 4- and 5-year follow-up.Markman, HJ., Renick, MJ., Floyd, FJ., et al.[2019]

References

The effectiveness of PREP with lower-income racial/ethnic minority couples. [2022]
The Online OurRelationship Program for Relationally Distressed Individuals: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]
Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training: a 4- and 5-year follow-up. [2019]
Trajectories of relationship and individual functioning among waitlisted couples for an online relationship intervention. [2022]
Dismantling study of prevention and relationship education program: the effects of a structured communication intervention. [2013]
It's About Time! Examining Received Dosage and Program Duration as Predictors of Change Among Non-Distressed and Distressed Married Couple and Relationship Education Participants. [2019]
The impact of the within my reach relationship training on relationship skills and outcomes for low-income individuals. [2014]
Equipping couples with the tools to cope with predictable and unpredictable crisis events: the PREP Program. [2004]
Relationship education in community settings: effectiveness with distressed and non-distressed low-income racial minority couples. [2022]
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