Promoting Positive Emotional Functioning in Police and Military Populations

University of Manitoba

Status: Active, not recruiting

Conditions: Anhedonia

Treatments: Behavioral: PVSET

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06035562

HS26055 (H2023:201)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will examine whether actively serving and veteran members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) who complete a treatment targeting anhedonia symptoms and amplifying positive emotional processing: 1) experience significant symptom reductions in anxiety, trauma, and depressive symptoms; 2) report increased experience of positive emotions; 3) report improvements to broad functioning and quality of life; and 4) find the treatment to be highly tolerable.

Enrollment: 65 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Be an actively serving or veteran member of the CAF and RCMP;
• Have been referred to receive the treatment protocol at the OSIC at Deer Lodge Centre by a doctor or psychologist;
• Have previously participated in at least one evidence-based psychological treatment for depressive, anxiety, or trauma-and-stressor-related condition at OSIC but remain clinically symptomatic;
• Be able to speak, read, and write in English;
• Have no current psychosis, untreated bipolar disorder, or current suicidal ideation with plan and intent;
• Be on a stable medication regime and agree to not make changes for the duration of the treatment.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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65 participants in 1 patient group

PVSET

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a course of individual therapy through the Operational Stress Injury Clinic (OSIC) at Deer Lodge Centre. Therapy will consist of a validated treatment protocol known as Positive Valence System Enhancement Treatment for Anxiety and Depression (PVSET), which will consist of psychoeducation and positive activity interventions designed to increase positive emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. Therapy sessions will be facilitated by psychologists, licensed therapists (e.g., MSW, RPN), and/or graduate students in psychology under supervision at the OSIC. PVSET will consist of 6 sessions, each lasting one hour, and will be delivered either virtually or in-person at OSIC depending on patient preference.

Treatment:

Behavioral: PVSET