Evaluation of PTSD Family Coach, a Mobile Phone App for Family Members of Individuals With PTSD

VA Palo Alto Health Care System

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic

Treatments: Behavioral: PTSD Family Coach Basic; Behavioral: PTSD Family Coach Full

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT02486705

28147

Details and patient eligibility

About

The proposed pilot study is designed to test the feasibility, acceptability, and potential effectiveness of a mobile phone application (app) developed by the VA National Center for PTSD (VA NCPTSD) for use by family members of those with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The primary objective of the proposed study is to assess whether family members of veterans with PTSD find the PTSD Family Coach app to be satisfactory and feasible to use. Secondary objectives are to determine if use of the app increases family members' self-efficacy and their ability to manage their own life stress, which may in part be the result of living with someone who has PTSD.

Full description

PTSD Family Coach is a mobile phone app for family members of individuals with PTSD. This application provides:

• education about PTSD
• a self-assessment tool measuring life stress
• self-management skills to address acute distress and stress
• direct connection to support and
• information about VA and community resources for family members of individuals with PTSD

From this research, the investigators wish to learn whether family members of someone with PTSD find the PTSD Family Coach to be satisfactory and feasible to use. The investigators would also like to know if use of the app increases family members' knowledge of PTSD, and its treatment, and their ability to manage their own life stress, which may in part be the result of living with a Veteran with PTSD.

Currently, there are very few resources for family members of Veterans with PTSD. If this research demonstrates that PTSD Family Coach is a promising tool for family members, it has the potential to address a tremendous unmet need using a very cost-effective, scalable solution.

Enrollment: 242 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• currently living with a Veteran with significant PTSD symptoms
• age 18 or older
• own an iPhone, iPad or other iOS compatible device
• currently experiencing at least moderate symptoms of stress

Exclusion criteria

• currently enrolled in another study related to PTSD

Trial design

242 participants in 2 patient groups

PTSD Family Coach Basic

Active Comparator group

Description:

PTSD Coach basic provides an iOS mobile app with extensive information about caregiving for family members of those with PTSD and additional support resources.

Treatment:

Behavioral: PTSD Family Coach Basic

PTSD Family Coach Full

Experimental group

Description:

PTSD Family Coach full provides an iOS mobile app with extensive information about caregiving for family members of those with PTSD, additional support resources, tools for coping with caregiving-related stress, and tools for self-monitoring stress symptoms.

Treatment:

Behavioral: PTSD Family Coach Full