RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT04793776

Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression (MERA)

Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression - MERA: A Brief Aggression Treatment for Veterans With PTSD Symptoms

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Enrollment

204 participants

Start Date

Jan 3, 2022

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Aggression Emotion Regulation

Summary

PTSD is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting Veterans who have served since 9/11. Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report difficulty controlling impulsive aggression (IA). An inability to manage one's emotions (emotion dysregulation) is an underlying mechanism of IA. Reducing IA and increasing use of PTSD evidence-based psychotherapies are two critical missions for the Veterans Health Administration. The proposed research supports these missions by comparing a 3- session emotion regulation treatment (Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression) to a control group in order to determine if MERA can reduce IA and prepare Veterans for PTSD treatment. By enhancing Veterans' abilities to cope with trauma-related emotions and feel equipped to initiate PTSD treatments, this research aims to help Veterans decrease IA and ultimately recover from PTSD.

Eligibility

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 64 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is testing the MERA program (Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression), a therapy designed to help Veterans who have PTSD and struggle with impulsive aggression — sudden, intense outbursts of anger or violent behavior. Researchers want to know whether this emotion-focused therapy can reduce aggression and improve quality of life. **You may be eligible if...** - You are a male or female Veteran who deployed to a combat zone after September 11, 2001 - You currently meet criteria for full or partial PTSD - You have had at least 3 aggressive outbursts (such as yelling, throwing objects, or hitting) in the past month - Your aggression is primarily impulsive (reactive, not planned) **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are not a Veteran who deployed post-9/11 - Your aggression is primarily premeditated rather than impulsive - You do not meet the PTSD or aggression criteria Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

BEHAVIORALManage Emotions to Reduce Aggression

MERA begins with education about the adaptive nature of emotions, how childhood and military experiences can influence emotion regulation, and how combat requires different emotion regulation strategies than most civilian environments. MERA use modeling and practice with feedback to teach cognitive-behavioral and acceptance-based emotion regulation skills.

BEHAVIORALPresent Centered Psychotherapy

PCT will serve as the comparison group. PCT assists Veterans in understanding and coping with current difficulties, such as aggression, but does not provide systematic training in emotion regulation skills.