Preserving Function Among Disability Applicants

Phase 1

Completed

• Conditions: Disability
• Interventions: Behavioral: Benefits Counseling; Behavioral: VA Orientation

• Registration Number: NCT00530985
• Lead Sponsor: US Department of Veterans Affairs

Brief Summary

To test the hypothesis that veterans counseled around managing their benefits will work more and have a better quality of life than those receiving non-specific counseling.

Detailed Description

The aim is to develop and test the efficacy of Benefits Counseling to improve quality of life among veterans who apply for VA benefits. Benefits Counseling involves providing claimants information about rehabilitation and work-related activities, benefits determination and management, and available substance abuse treatment . Benefits Counseling is designed to increase motivation to be active and promote engagement in substance abuse treatment. After enrolling 15 participants in an open-label pilot phase, 300 veterans who are not receiving benefits and are applying to VBA for disability benefits will be randomly assigned to Benefits Counseling or the control condition, VA Orientation, and both groups will be followed for one year.

The primary outcome measures will be observer-rated and self-rated quality of life. Secondary outcome measures will include substance use and treatment utilization.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2007-02
• Study First Submitted: 2007-09-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2007-09-17
• Study First Posted: 2007-09-18
• Status Verified: 2009-06
• Primary Completion: 2009-06
• Study Completion: 2009-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2009-06-30
• Last Update Posted: 2009-07-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

1. Applying for VA service connection and not currently receiving VBA benefits.
2. Veterans who have been rated 0% service-connected but do not receive financial benefits are eligible to participate.
3. Able to provide valid consent
4. Age 18-65
5. Expresses willingness to discuss benefits with a counselor
6. Anticipates difficulty working

Exclusion Criteria

1. Already receiving VA payments
2. Already receiving SSI or SSDI
3. Has a conservator

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Benefits Counseling	Benefits Counseling
2	VA Orientation	VA Orientation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Days engaged in work and work-related activities	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
substance use (as measured by days having used illicit drugs, alcohol to intoxication in the preceding days)	6 months
treatment utilization (days in last 30 having participated in rehabilitation and work-related activities, number of days having participated in non-inpatient substance abuse treatment, number of days on any inpatient unit)	6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

VA Connecticut Health Care System (West Haven); 🇺🇸 West Haven, Connecticut, United States