Addressing Stress Responses on the Frontline-Further Development of RESTORE (Recovering From Extreme Stressors Through Online Resources and E-health)
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Mental Health
- Sponsor
- University Health Network, Toronto
- Enrollment
- 21
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in self-reported Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 4 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
There is considerable need for psychological intervention targeting stressor-related mental health symptoms related to COVID-19. The investigators have developed an online self-directed transdiagnostic intervention to address this need called RESTORE: Recovering from Extreme Stressors Through Online Resources and E-health. The specific aims of this project are to refine and investigate the feasibility, initial safety, and efficacy of RESTORE for addressing mental health symptoms in first responders, health care workers (HCW), and Canadian Armed Forces members exposed to COVID-19-related traumatic or extreme stressors.
Detailed Description
This uncontrolled pilot interventional study will examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of RESTORE. RESTORE is a guided self-directed online intervention to improve anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in individuals exposed to COVID-19 related traumatic or extreme stressors. RESTORE is based on evidence-based psychotherapies and has been designed to overcome many of the barriers associated with accessing evidence-based psychotherapies. The intervention will be iteratively refined over the course of the study. The guidance methods will also be refined and manualized over the course of the study The primary hypotheses are that RESTORE will be safe, feasible, and desirable to participants, and will lead to improvements in mental health symptom severity from baseline to post-intervention. Secondary hypotheses are that RESTORE will lead to significant improvements in perceived health, quality of life, and functioning from baseline to post-intervention. Participants will be assessed at baseline, pre-intervention, during the intervention (after module 4), immediately after the intervention, and 1 month after completion of the intervention.
Investigators
Kathryn Trottier
Psychologist and Clinical Program Lead
University Health Network, Toronto
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •Canadian healthcare worker, first responder, or military member
- •Experienced a traumatic or extremely stressful situation in the course of work related to COVID-19
- •≥ 18 years of age
- •Scores at above clinical threshold, as defined by the investigators, on at least one of: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (\[PHQ-9\] score ≥ 10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (\[GAD-7\] score ≥ 10), and/or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale-5 (\[PCL-5\] score ≥ 33)
- •Access to a computer or a tablet with high speed internet access, be able to clearly see the screen of a computer or tablet, and be fluent in English
- •Ability to provide consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Elevated risk of suicide
- •Currently enrolled in another intervention or treatment (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy) for stress responses related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in self-reported Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up
The PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5); Weathers, Litz, Keane, Palemeri, Marx, \& Schnurr, 2013) weekly version will provide a measure of change in self-reported PTSD symptoms over the course of intervention. Items are rated from 0 (not at all) to 4 (extremely). Items are summed to create a total score ranging from 0 to 80. A cutoff score of ≥ 33 can be used for screening for PTSD diagnosis (Weathers et al, 2013).
Change in Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7)
Time Frame: Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up
A brief clinical measure to assess anxiety severity. Each item is rated on a 4-point scale from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). A symptom severity score is calculated based on the sum of the 7 items, with scores ranging from 0 to 21. GAD-7 scores of 10 and 15 are the cut-off points for moderate and severe anxiety, respectively (Spitzer et., 2006).
Change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)
Time Frame: Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up
A self-report measure of depression symptoms. Each of the 9 items is rated on a 4-point scale, ranging from 0 (not at all) to 3 (nearly every day). Items are summed to produce a total severity score ranging from 0 to 27, with higher scores indicating greater symptom severity. PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10 are considered indicative of moderate levels of depression (Manea et al., 2011).
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Perceived emotional social support(Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up)
- Change in Perceived Health, Functioning, and Quality of Life (QOL)(Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up)
- Change in Adapted Brief Grief Questionnaire(Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up)
- Change in Adapted Expressions of Moral Injury Scale(Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up)
- Change in Trauma-Related Guilt Inventory (TRGI)(Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up)
- Change in Mental Health Seeking Attitudes/Intention Scale(Baseline, pre-intervention; during the intervention (after module 4); immediately after the intervention; 1-month follow-up)