NCT06136234

Caring for Vets and Service Members: Caring Contacts for Stressed and Distressed Veterans and Service Members

COVE (Caring for Vets and Service Members)

• Status: Active Not Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 521 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Washington · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to study stressed or distressed veterans and service members. Researchers will compare Caring Contacts plus best available resources to best available resources alone to see if reduces distress and prevents thoughts of suicide.

Detailed description

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether Caring Contacts via text message are beneficial to veterans and service members experiencing stress or distress. In the past, Caring Contacts interventions have focused on individuals who are already suicidal and not a more general population. In addition, a core objective of this study is to understand the mechanisms of action of Caring Contacts and thus has included an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) component that will allow us to determine when and how Caring Contacts is making an impact. Study aims are to Evaluate if stressed or distressed veterans receiving Caring Contacts are at greater or less risk of suicidal ideation or behavior as evidenced by: Decreased mean and reduction in variability of indicators of suicide risk (motivation to live, passive ideation, active ideation, suicide intent, and urges to harm self) acquired during Ecological Momentary Assessment periods. Reduced risk of suicidal ideation (HASS-I) and cognitions (SCS-R) during follow-up. Examine diverse veterans' experiences with Caring Contacts (i.e., access, satisfaction, preferences, potential mechanisms) Evaluate if veterans receiving Caring Contacts will show a decrease in distress (i.e., isolation, depression, substance use, loneliness, defeat, hopelessness, and psychological pain) Identify potential mechanisms of action for Caring Contacts by exploring the relationship between potential mechanisms (i.e., mattering, connectedness, social responsibility, and entrapment), distress, and suicide risk observed during ecological momentary assessment periods to identify potential mechanisms of action of Caring Contacts on decreasing distress and suicide risk

Conditions

• Stress
• Distress, Emotional

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Caring Contacts	Caring Contacts are brief, periodic messages sent over 1 year that express unconditional care and concern
BEHAVIORAL	Best Available Resources Alone	Participants will be offered information about best available resources and will receive an email summarizing the resources with links and contact information. These resources are tailored to best serve the participant based on information they share during the online survey or during conversations with study staff.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-04-30
• Primary completion: 2026-09-30
• Completion: 2026-09-30
• First posted: 2023-11-18
• Last updated: 2025-09-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States