Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans

Summary

Sexual minority stressors (e.g., sexual minority identity-based discrimination) contribute to greater risk for and severity of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide among sexual minority Veterans. However, no brief, scalable, one-on-one interventions targeting sexual minority stressor-related distress are available in Veterans Affairs (VA) for sexual minority Veterans. The proposed research will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief, 3-session expressive writing intervention to target distress related to sexual minority stressor exposure among sexual minority Veterans. The results of this work will advance knowledge about a promising brief and easy to implement intervention focused on reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among sexual minority Veterans. This proposal aligns with VA's and CSR\&D's commitment to providing equitable services to sexual minority Veterans and the aim of reducing health disparities among underserved Veteran groups.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants will be Veterans who:

* identify as a sexual minority (i.e., identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or another identity other than heterosexual)
* endorse clinically significant depressive or anxiety symptoms (score above 10 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7)
* report a history of sexuality-based minority stressor exposure that is contributing to distress on phone screening
* be stable on psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks if on a psychotropic medication

Exclusion Criteria:

The exclusion criteria for Veterans in this study are:

* clear and current suicidal plan and/or intent (assessed via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
* current presentation of unstable mania and/or psychosis (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
* current substance use disorder, severe (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
* significant cognitive impairment, including evidence of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, determined by an inability to comprehend baseline screening questionnaires

Conditions3

Locations1 site

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