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Abstract: This is an introduction to the special issue “Interventions for Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families.” This special issue focuses on couple and family interventions that have been modified and evaluated to address the needs of military and veteran populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:00:00 GMT
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Abstract: A recent systematic review on family and suicide prevention efforts identified a lack of family-based interventions for adults. To address this gap, Safe Actions for Families to Encourage Recovery (SAFER) intervention was created. SAFER is a novel, manualized, four-session, family-based treatment intervention that provides the tools and structure to support family involvement in Safety Planning Intervention (SPI). The SAFER intervention includes the development of a Veteran, and a complementary supporting partner, SPI. This Stage II (2aii) randomized clinical trial evaluated preliminary efficacy of this innovative approach. Thirty-nine Veterans and an associated supporting partner were randomized to receive SAFER or currently mandated individual SPI (I-SPI). Veterans in SAFER, compared to I-SPI, exhibited significant monthly decrements in suicide ideation (B = −0.37; p = .032). Moreover, a treatment-by-time interaction emerged when predicting improvements in Veteran suicide-related coping (B = 0.08; p = .028) and partner support of Veteran’s coping (B = 0.17; p = .032). However, the treatment effect for Veteran coping was not significant in dyadic analyses (B = 0.07; p = .151) after controlling for the partner’s support (B = 0.16; p = .009). Self-reported appraisals of relational factors and self-efficacy were not impacted by condition for either Veterans or partners. This initial efficacy pilot trial suggests SAFER has the potential to improve Veteran suicide symptoms and family members’ support of coping. More intensive work may be required for changes in burdensomeness and belongingness. Nonetheless, SAFER’s discussion of suicide symptoms facilitated a more robust development of Veteran’s and partner’s SPIs. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Thu, 23 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT
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Abstract: Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) is a well-established, attachment-based treatment for relationship distress. This study seeks to further previous research by examining the impact of EFT on veterans’ and their partners’ symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and relationship distress, in a real-life clinical setting. The present study uses dyadic data analyses to test three hypotheses: from pre to posttherapy veterans and their partners would report (a) increases in relationship satisfaction and decreases in (b) PTSD and (c) depression symptoms. In addition, we tested whether diagnostic status at the start of therapy, that is, meeting clinical criteria for that outcome, moderated the changes. Data were collected as part of routine care at an outpatient clinic at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital. The sample consisted of 29 couples. Pre and postmeasures were obtained at the first and final sessions (Msessions = 15.52 SD = 7.19). Multilevel models examining changes across time for all partners found that the difference between pre and posttherapy scores for relationship satisfaction (b = 10.85, p < .01) and depression symptoms (b = −1.61, p < .05) was significant. Moreover, diagnostic status moderated treatment effects for all outcomes: the difference between pre and posttherapy scores was significant for partners who met clinical criteria for relationship distress (b = 13.93, p < .001), PTSD (b = −12.39, p < .01), and depression (b = −7.64, p < .001). Although PTSD and depression are not the focus of treatment, results indicate EFT is effective at reducing relationship distress and individual symptomatology in veterans and their partners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Mon, 20 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMT
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Abstract: Military personnel and their partners report greater alcohol use and related problems compared to their civilian counterparts. We designed a web-based intervention (WBI) called Partners Connect individualized for a military spouse or partner concerned about their service member/veteran’s (SMV) drinking and conducted a secondary data analysis to examine the effect of the WBI on participant drinking and their perceptions of their SMV partner’s drinking. Participants were concerned partners (CPs) recruited through social media and randomized to Partners Connect or waitlist control. They completed online surveys at baseline and 3 months postintervention. CPs who reported any past-month drinking were included in the current analyses, n = 161; 94.4% female, 77% White, 5% Hispanic, 32.0 (SD = 6.5) years old. There was no significant effect of the intervention on CP drinking. However, the intervention effect was moderated by CP drinks per week, such that heavier drinking intervention CPs reported significant reductions in their number of drinking days at follow-up. Heavy drinking CPs who reduced their drinking also reported perceived reductions in SMV drinking. Military spouses and partners participated in Partners Connect out of concern for their SMV partner’s drinking. In doing so, heavier drinking CPs reduced their own drinking frequency, which was also associated with perceptions of SMV drinking. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMT
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Abstract: Theories of suicide highlight the importance of healthy interpersonal connection and research has found that relationship problems are the most frequently endorsed stressor preceding attempts. However, established suicide interventions are individually focused and do not directly address the relational context. Additionally, it is unclear whether a couple-based suicide intervention would be acceptable to veterans and their partners. Utilizing two different treatment-seeking samples (N = 91), we examined veterans’ and partners’ desire for and willingness to engage in a couple-based suicide intervention and whether interest in such an intervention correlated with demographics or clinical symptom severity. Findings suggested that veterans and their partners have talked about suicidal thoughts with one another to some extent (77.7%–86.8%), are interested in a couple-based suicide intervention (55.3%–61.5%) or willing to learn more (23.1%–33.3%), and think their partners would be interested (47.4%–61.5%) or willing to learn more (26.9%–42.1%). There were few predictors of differences in interest. Overall, a couple-based suicide intervention appears to be acceptable and desirable by veterans in crisis and their partners. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT
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Abstract: Military-related stressors place veterans at increased risk of intimate relationship problems, which are detrimental to physical health, mental health, and well-being. Couple and family interventions for veterans are effective, and veteran access to family-based care is mandated by law. However, many veteran couples experience barriers to accessing care. OurRelationship is a coached online relationship program that may help meet veterans’ needs for accessible couples’ interventions. Although OurRelationship is effective with community couples, it has not been implemented or evaluated in a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center setting. The present study piloted the OurRelationship program at a VA site in the southwestern United States to examine feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of the program. Thirteen veterans and their partners enrolled in an open trial and provided baseline and postprogram data on relationship and individual functioning as well as qualitative feedback about their program experiences. Feasibility was supported by meeting recruitment goals, implementing all parts of the online program and coaching sessions, and a completion rate of 85%. Couples reported moderate to high satisfaction with the existing program but also suggested veteran-specific adaptations, including more attention to cognitive and mental health challenges. Veterans and partners exhibited small improvements in relationship satisfaction, distress, depression, and quality of life, with partners showing larger improvements in relationship conflict and quality of life. These results suggest OurRelationship can help expand access to family care for veterans; however, a randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a version of the OurRelationship program tailored to veterans is needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT
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Abstract: The Army New Parent Support Program (Army NPSP) provides home visitation services that promote positive parenting strategies and aims to prevent family violence for expectant military parents and military families with children from birth to age 3. Since the onset of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Army NPSP services have rapidly adapted to a telehealth model to fit with the suggested practices of physical distancing. Employing a grounded theory approach, nine virtual focus groups with 30 Army NPSP home visitors across eight installations were conducted to examine how this rapid shift has impacted their services, practice, and professional role. The present study identified two overarching themes: (1) working with families (e.g., continued engagement with families, increased communication, shifting family needs) and (2) adjusting to telework (e.g., technology, professional collaboration and communication, professional growth). Findings from these focus groups indicated that home visitors were actively engaged with their clients and experienced both challenges and benefits of telehealth. While the rapid transition was a big change, and home visitors missed the face-to-face interactions, they expressed that they were adapting and improving their virtual service delivery with time. Increased concerns regarding families’ well-being due to social and physical isolation, increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, and grief for losses due to COVID-19, along with the ability to continue connections with these highly mobile families, points to the importance of telehealth as a means to implement parenting programs vital to military family well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) PubDate: Thu, 09 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT
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