Project Safe Guard-Trauma
Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T): A Randomized Controlled Trial of Counseling to Promote a Secure Home Environment
University of Colorado, Denver
168 participants
May 15, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if a counseling intervention, Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T), increases secure firearm storage practices in adults who screen positive for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does PSG-T lead to more secure firearm storage practices? * Does PSG-T increase knowledge about the link between firearm storage practices and suicide risk? * Does PSG-T increase intentions to store firearms securely? Researchers will compare PSG-T to a control, Project Safe Guard (PSG), which is a counseling intervention that does not focus on the potential influence of PTSD symptoms on firearm storage practices. This will help to determine if PSG-T works better than PSG to increase secure firearm storage in adults with elevated PTSD symptoms. Participants will: * Complete a baseline survey * Receive the counseling intervention * Complete a survey immediately after the intervention and at 1-, 3-, and 6-months following the intervention
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria7
- Aged 18+ years
- Firearm owner
- History of one or more victimization traumas per the Life Events Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5) (LEC-5), defined as having directly experienced physical assault, sexual assault, combat, and/or captivity
- Positive posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screen on the Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5)
- Willing to provide physical location at time of Zoom sessions
- Willing to keep Zoom camera on during study sessions
- Ability to read, write, and speak English
Exclusion Criteria4
- Currently stores all personal firearms unloaded and locked
- Active psychosis or acute mania necessitating clinical intervention
- Acute thoughts of self- or other-harm necessitating imminent clinical intervention (e.g., hospitalization)
- Unable to provide informed consent
Interventions
Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T) is a brief (15- to 20-minute), single-session lethal means safety counseling intervention (LMSC) for firearm-owning individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PSG-T is designed to promote secure firearm storage practices by (1) using motivational interviewing techniques and (2) addressing the functional link between PTSD symptoms and unsafe firearm storage practices. In motivational interviewing-based LMSC, the clinician uses a guided approach to help individuals identify their values and motivations for secure firearm storage, rather than prescribing a certain set of actions. The focus is on respecting patients' autonomy and normalizing responsible firearm ownership by developing discrepancies, amplifying ambivalence, expressing empathy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy. PSG-T combines PSG-proven motivational interviewing techniques with PTSD- and firearm-specific psychoeducation.
Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG) is a brief (15- to 20-minute), single-session lethal means safety counseling intervention (LMSC) for firearm-owning individuals. PSG-T is designed to promote secure firearm storage practices by using motivational interviewing techniques. In motivational interviewing-based LMSC, the clinician uses a guided approach to help individuals identify their values and motivations for secure firearm storage, rather than prescribing a certain set of actions. The focus is on respecting patients' autonomy and normalizing responsible firearm ownership by developing discrepancies, amplifying ambivalence, expressing empathy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT06876740