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Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2025-11-19
200
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
26 weeks
Total Duration
Justice-involved Veterans face high risks for suicide and other challenges due to legal issues, mental health, and substance use problems. Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans DBT-J is designed to address these complex needs. This research study is a Phase III clinical trial comparing DBT-J to supportive group therapy to see which better reduces criminal behavior risk and improves psychosocial functioning among these Veterans. Participants will receive either 16 weeks of DBT-J, which includes weekly one-hour group therapy sessions and biweekly 30-minute individual case management, or 16 weeks of supportive group psychotherapy with weekly 75-minute group sessions. Both therapies are provided via telehealth. After the therapy period, a 36-week observation phase follows to monitor longer-term effects. Throughout the study, Veterans will undergo multiple assessments over 52 weeks to measure risk of future criminal behavior, psychosocial functioning, suicidal thoughts, substance use, psychological distress, resilience, quality of life, and other factors. Researchers will use these measurements to compare the two therapies and understand how DBT-J may benefit different subgroups. Participants will be monitored regularly to track changes and outcomes during and after treatment.
CONDITIONS
Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans
E
Emily R Edwards, PhD
S
Sharon Alter, MA
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VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | DBT‑J | Supportive Group Psychotherapy |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An integrated 16‑week intervention combining weekly group skills sessions and biweekly individual case management tailored to justice‑involved Veterans | A 16‑week clinician‑facilitated supportive group psychotherapy program delivered via telehealth |
| Role in trial | Experimental behavioral treatment designed to reduce criminal behavior risk and improve psychosocial functioning | Active comparator providing supportive group psychotherapy to evaluate comparative efficacy |
| Primary use | To address criminogenic risk, mental health and case management needs among justice‑involved Veterans | To provide general therapeutic support through group psychotherapy for justice‑involved Veterans |
| How it is delivered | Weekly 60‑minute group therapy plus biweekly 30‑minute individual case management over 16 weeks, delivered via telehealth | Weekly 75‑minute group psychotherapy sessions delivered via telehealth for 16 weeks |
| Evidence status | Early small‑scale studies show feasibility, acceptability and reductions in criminogenic risk and distress among 20 Veterans | Comparison group has not been studied in this population experimentally in published trials |
| Important risks | Not reported in existing studies | Not reported |
| Important limitations | Published data are preliminary from small non‑randomized studies; randomized efficacy data not yet available | No published outcomes in this specific population; comparator performance is unknown outside this trial |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
You may qualify if you...
You will not qualify if you...
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 screening and enrollment visit (in-person or via telehealth)
Duration - 16 weeks
Participants receive 16 weeks of group psychotherapy and case management services tailored for justice-involved Veterans, delivered via telehealth.
Weekly group therapy visits and biweekly individual case management visits
Duration - 36 weeks
Participants are observed for 36 weeks following treatment to assess ongoing outcomes related to criminal behavior, psychosocial functioning, and other health measures.
Periodic assessments during the 36-week observational period
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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Emily R Edwards, Ryan Holliday, Sharon Alter...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42343438/VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
