Army Health for Military Resilience

Overseen By Nicole Wesley

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Disqualifiers: Under 21, Not NG member

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

400 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.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Army Health for Military Resilience?

The research suggests that a multidisciplinary approach, including holistic health practices and nutritional care, can improve outcomes for soldiers, such as resilience and return-to-duty rates. These components are part of the Army Health treatment, indicating its potential effectiveness in enhancing soldier wellness and resilience. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Army Health treatment generally safe for humans?

The research highlights potential safety concerns with dietary and exercise supplements used by military personnel, including adverse events and risks associated with certain supplements. The US Department of Defense has taken measures to educate and protect service members, indicating that while some supplements may be risky, efforts are in place to manage these risks. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How is the Army Health treatment different from other treatments for military resilience?

Army Health is unique because it focuses on a holistic approach to soldier wellness by emphasizing the Performance Triad, which includes sleep health, physical activity, and nutrition behaviors. This approach aims to improve resilience and performance by creating a system for health rather than just traditional medical care. ^{3 11 12 13 14}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overall objectives of this study are to better define the construct of psychological resilience in the military, to identify potential modifiable risk factors and trainable skills of psychological resilience in Soldiers, and provide a scalable, integrated physical and mental optimization training app to be integrated into relevant systems. The proposed work would be a first step in identifying predictive risk factors that can be modified to increase the future resilience of Soldiers. With this crucial information, the investigators aim to gather data that will inform the development of a resilience-focused intervention (e.g., a skills training program) and test the feasibility of that intervention.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for military personnel interested in improving their psychological resilience. It aims to identify modifiable risk factors and trainable skills that can enhance soldiers' mental and physical well-being. The study will also test a new training app designed for integration into existing systems.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 21 and either a National Guard soldier or a family member.

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 21 years old and not associated with the National Guard.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention Development

Development of a resilience-focused intervention and skills training program

1 month

Training and Assessment

Participants engage in physical and mental optimization training and are assessed on various psychological measures

1 month

Multiple assessments via questionnaires

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term outcomes such as drug abuse and program satisfaction

12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Army Health

Trial Overview The study focuses on defining psychological resilience within the military context, identifying key risk factors, and developing trainable resilience skills. Participants will use an integrated optimization training app as part of the intervention to assess its effectiveness and feasibility.

Participant Groups

Group I: Program Users Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

314

Recruited

183,000+

Findings from Research

The 'Move to Health' course, designed to enhance resiliency among healthcare teams, did not significantly reduce burnout levels within two months, with 52% of participants reporting burnout before the course and 48% afterward.

Despite the lack of change in burnout rates, participants reported improved self-efficacy in providing holistic patient care and increased satisfaction with patient-centered care, although 70% had not implemented their action plans.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Resilience and Combating Burnout in US Army Health Care Teams. Coleman, AM., Hartzell, MM., Oh, RC., et al.[2021]

Proper nutrition is essential for soldiers' recovery and return to duty, as it impacts their overall health, stress management, and wound healing processes.

Involving a registered dietitian in the treatment team can significantly enhance nutritional care, potentially improving the rate at which soldiers return to active duty after trauma.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of nutritional care upon return-to-duty rates. Hodges, PA.[2017]

A study involving 707 UK military recruits found that a resilience-based intervention (SPEAR) did not significantly improve mental health outcomes, such as PTSD and common mental disorder symptoms, compared to usual training.

Despite initial lower levels of mental health stigmatisation among those receiving the SPEAR intervention, there were no significant differences in help-seeking behavior, cohesion, or leadership perceptions at follow-up, indicating the intervention may not have had the intended impact.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resilience-based intervention for UK military recruits: a randomised controlled trial. Jones, N., Whelan, C., Harden, L., et al.[2019]

Extremity injuries in combat-injured soldiers significantly contribute to long-term disability, highlighting the need for effective tracking of patient outcomes to understand the impact of various injury patterns.

A multidisciplinary approach to treating severe extremity trauma is essential for optimizing patient outcomes, and collecting both functional and patient-reported outcomes will help military surgeons develop evidence-based treatment plans for future injuries.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Outcomes Following Extremity Trauma: The Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach. Stinner, DJ.[2018]

Sustained operational stress during military missions can lead to significant physiological issues in soldiers, including reduced anabolic hormones, decreased skeletal muscle mass, and loss of bone mineral density.

This review aims to inform military commanders about these physical and physiological declines, enabling them to plan missions that incorporate countermeasures to maintain or enhance soldier performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physiological decrements during sustained military operational stress. Henning, PC., Park, BS., Kim, JS.[2019]

Approximately 70% of military personnel use dietary supplements, which is significantly higher than the 50% usage rate in the general civilian population, potentially increasing their risk of adverse events.

The US Department of Defense has implemented measures like Operation Supplement Safety to educate military personnel about safe supplement use and to monitor and report adverse events associated with dietary supplements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protecting military personnel from high risk dietary supplements. Deuster, PA., Lieberman, HR.[2017]

Military members, especially those in Special Operations Forces, have a high usage of dietary supplements (DS), which raises concerns about potential interactions with medications and the safety of these products.

The article emphasizes the need for military personnel to understand dietary supplement regulations and risks, providing resources to help maintain health and performance while using these products.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What the SOF Community Needs to Know About Dietary Supplements. Deuster, PA.[2022]

Dietary supplement use is common in the military, particularly among Special Operations Forces, but the lack of strict regulations can lead to harmful side effects, as illustrated by a case of drug-induced liver injury from a testosterone prohormone supplement.

Healthcare providers and military personnel need to be informed about the risks associated with dietary supplements and utilize available resources for safety ratings and reporting adverse reactions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Drug-induced liver injury secondary to testosterone prohormone dietary supplement use. Hoedebecke, KL., Rerucha, CM., Maxwell, K., et al.[2022]

73% of Navy and Marine Corps personnel reported using dietary supplements regularly, with multivitamins and protein supplements being the most common, indicating a high prevalence of supplement use in this population.

22% of dietary supplement users experienced adverse events, with combination products showing a particularly high rate of 29%, highlighting potential safety concerns associated with these supplements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevalence, Adverse Events, and Factors Associated with Dietary Supplement and Nutritional Supplement Use by US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel. Knapik, JJ., Trone, DW., Austin, KG., et al.[2022]

A study of 1017 British soldiers during Op TELIC found that 41% reported using dietary and exercise supplements, with whey protein, amino acids, and creatine being the most common, highlighting a significant prevalence of supplement use in military settings.

The concerning finding of 1.4% of soldiers admitting to current anabolic steroid use underscores the need for increased education on the potential health risks associated with such supplements, as well as the importance of promoting safe practices among military personnel.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-administration of exercise and dietary supplements in deployed British military personnel during Operation TELIC 13. Boos, CJ., Wheble, GA., Campbell, MJ., et al.[2022]

The Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF) program is designed to enhance psychological resilience among U.S. Army personnel, their families, and civilians, rather than serving as a medical treatment.

CSF provides evidence-based training to help individuals cope with stressors like combat and separation from loved ones, aiming to strengthen their ability to handle life's challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comprehensive soldier fitness: a vision for psychological resilience in the U.S. Army. Casey, GW.[2015]

The Army aims to enhance soldier performance and resilience by shifting from a traditional healthcare model to a proactive 'system for health' that emphasizes sleep, physical activity, and nutrition, known as the Performance Triad.

This innovative approach is expected to improve individual soldier health and performance throughout their military careers and could serve as a beneficial model for national health initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Soldier Health and Performance by Moving Army Medicine Toward a System for Health. Caravalho, J.[2018]

Physical fitness is a key factor in building resilience, as it helps individuals withstand and recover from stressors while promoting overall health and well-being.

Regular exercise not only provides physiological and psychological benefits but also protects against chronic diseases and enhances mental toughness, which are essential for resilience, particularly in high-stress environments like the military.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical fitness: a pathway to health and resilience. Deuster, PA., Silverman, MN.[2018]

The study highlights a strong connection between medical fitness and resilience among Air Force personnel, suggesting that improving medical fitness can help protect against stress-related issues.

Preventive care is identified as a key intervention that can enhance medical fitness and resilience, potentially reducing the prevalence of injuries and chronic conditions among Airmen and their families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Medical Fitness and Resilience: A Review of Relevant Constructs, Measures, and Links to Well-Being. Shih, RA., Meadows, SO., Martin, MT.[2020]

References

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

Improving Resilience and Combating Burnout in US Army Health Care Teams. [2021]

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

Impact of nutritional care upon return-to-duty rates. [2017]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resilience-based intervention for UK military recruits: a randomised controlled trial. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving Outcomes Following Extremity Trauma: The Need for a Multidisciplinary Approach. [2018]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physiological decrements during sustained military operational stress. [2019]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Protecting military personnel from high risk dietary supplements. [2017]

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

What the SOF Community Needs to Know About Dietary Supplements. [2022]

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

Drug-induced liver injury secondary to testosterone prohormone dietary supplement use. [2022]

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

Prevalence, Adverse Events, and Factors Associated with Dietary Supplement and Nutritional Supplement Use by US Navy and Marine Corps Personnel. [2022]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Self-administration of exercise and dietary supplements in deployed British military personnel during Operation TELIC 13. [2022]

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

Comprehensive soldier fitness: a vision for psychological resilience in the U.S. Army. [2015]

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

Improving Soldier Health and Performance by Moving Army Medicine Toward a System for Health. [2018]

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

Physical fitness: a pathway to health and resilience. [2018]

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

Medical Fitness and Resilience: A Review of Relevant Constructs, Measures, and Links to Well-Being. [2020]