Emotion Regulation Training for PTSD Prevention in Firefighters

(PEER UP Trial)

Overseen By Suzy B Gulliver, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Baylor Research Institute

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Psychotic symptoms, Substance dependence, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

480 Participants Needed

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 seems focused on workshops and questionnaires, so it's likely you can continue your medications, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Brief Unified Protocol for PTSD prevention in firefighters?

Research shows that difficulties in managing emotions are linked to more severe PTSD symptoms in firefighters and veterans. Treatments that improve emotion regulation skills, like the Brief Unified Protocol, may help reduce PTSD symptoms by teaching better ways to handle emotions. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Emotion Regulation Training safe for humans?

The research articles provided do not contain specific safety data for Emotion Regulation Training or the Brief Unified Protocol, but these approaches generally focus on teaching skills to manage emotions, which are considered safe and non-invasive. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

How is the Brief Unified Protocol treatment unique for PTSD prevention in firefighters?

The Brief Unified Protocol is unique because it focuses on improving emotion regulation skills, which are crucial for managing PTSD symptoms. This approach is different from other treatments that may not specifically target the emotional regulation difficulties that are common in firefighters and can impact their relationships and mental health. ^{1 2 3 5 7}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a peer-delivered emotion regulation training (Brief-Unified Protocol) workshop is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms in firefighter trainees. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower PTSD symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation? * Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower AUD, depression, anxiety, and functional impairment symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation? * Do changes in neuroticism or emotion regulation mediate the effect of receiving the Brief-Unified Protocol on the treatment outcomes? Participants will: * Participate in a Brief-Unified Protocol workshop or psychoeducation workshop during fire academy training. * Complete a questionnaire prior to the workshop. * Complete a questionnaire immediately following the workshop and follow up questionnaires at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after completing the fire academy. Researchers will compare firefighters who receive a peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol workshop to firefighters who receive peer-delivered psychoeducation to see if the Brief-Unified Protocol is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for firefighter trainees who are at least 21 years old, speak English, can consent to participate, and are willing to be contacted for follow-up assessments. They must be able to complete interviews and self-report assessments.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 21 years old or older.

I speak English.

I can sign a consent form.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Workshop

Participants attend a Brief-Unified Protocol or psychoeducation workshop during fire academy training

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants complete follow-up questionnaires to assess PTSD, depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder symptoms

24 months

Questionnaires at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Brief Unified Protocol

Trial Overview The study tests if a peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol workshop helps prevent PTSD and other mental health issues in firefighters better than just psychoeducation. It includes questionnaires before and after the workshops, with follow-ups over two years.

Participant Groups

Group I: Brief Unified Protocol Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This workshop includes education regarding basic human emotions, why we have emotions, how they help us, how they can get in the way, and how they are related to psychological health problems, including among firefighters. Skills that are helpful in managing strong or unwanted emotions will be taught and practiced during the workshop. A workshop manual will be provided. Brief videos summarizing the material will be emailed over the course of the month following the workshop.

Group II: Psychoeducation Active Control 1 Intervention

This workshop provides education regarding signs and symptoms of psychological health challenges that are most commonly experienced by firefighters. These include posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and alcohol and substance misuse. This workshop is a standard part of fire academy training. A workshop manual will be provided. Brief videos summarizing the material will be emailed over the course of the month following the workshop.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Baylor Research Institute

Lead Sponsor

Trials

210

Recruited

205,000+

University of Pittsburgh

Collaborator

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Boston University

Collaborator

Trials

494

Recruited

9,998,000+

Texas A&M University

Collaborator

Trials

156

Recruited

28,900+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Military Veteran Status and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptomatology Among Urban Firefighters: The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties. [2020]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An examination of the roles of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder on emotion regulation strategies of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn veterans. [2018]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Relationship Satisfaction among Firefighters: The Role of Emotion Regulation Difficulties. [2023]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of emotional functioning in military-related PTSD and its treatment. [2015]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adaptive and Maladaptive Cognitive-Emotional Strategies Associated With PTSD in First Responders: A Cross-Sectional Study. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Distress overtolerance among firefighters: Associations with posttraumatic stress. [2023]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Emotion Regulation in Rescue Workers: Differential Relationship With Perceived Work-Related Stress and Stress-Related Symptoms. [2023]