Actively Recruiting
Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression (MERA)
Led by VA Office of Research and Development · Updated on 2025-12-03
204
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
234 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
V
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor
M
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
PTSD is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting Veterans who have served since 9/11. Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report difficulty controlling impulsive aggression (IA). An inability to manage one's emotions (emotion dysregulation) is an underlying mechanism of IA. Reducing IA and increasing use of PTSD evidence-based psychotherapies are two critical missions for the Veterans Health Administration. The proposed research supports these missions by comparing a 3- session emotion regulation treatment (Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression) to a control group in order to determine if MERA can reduce IA and prepare Veterans for PTSD treatment. By enhancing Veterans' abilities to cope with trauma-related emotions and feel equipped to initiate PTSD treatments, this research aims to help Veterans decrease IA and ultimately recover from PTSD.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression (MERA)
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Male and female Veterans who deployed to combat zones since 9/11
- Currently meet criteria for full or subthreshold PTSD as determined by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
- Engaged in at least 3 self-reported aggressive acts in the last month measured by the Overt Aggression Scale
- Impulsive aggression is the primary form of aggression as determined by the Impulsive Premeditated Aggression Scale
- Allow an independent aggression rater (live-in partner, family member, or roommate over 18 years old) to verify the number of aggressive acts using the Overt Aggression Scale
- Agree not to change psychotropic medications during the study
You will not qualify if you...
- Currently suicidal with intent of self-harm in the last week
- Currently homicidal with plans to hurt a specific person
- Unable to complete self-report measures
- Meet diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder
- Had a psychotropic medication change within 4 weeks prior to baseline assessment
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL
Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612
Actively Recruiting
2
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Shannon R Miles, PhD
CONTACT
B
Briana N Chilton
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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