Project Safe Guard-Trauma: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Counseling to Promote Secure Firearm Storage in Adults With PTSD

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether a counseling program called Project Safe Guard-Trauma (PSG-T) can improve secure firearm storage among adults who have symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study compares PSG-T, which is specially adapted for people with PTSD, to a control counseling approach called Project Safe Guard (PSG) that does not focus on PTSD. The goal is to see if PSG-T leads to safer firearm storage, increased awareness of the link between firearm storage and suicide risk, and stronger intentions to store firearms securely. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the PSG-T intervention, which is a brief 15- to 20-minute session using motivational interviewing tailored to PTSD and firearm safety, or the standard PSG intervention, which also uses motivational interviewing but without PTSD-specific content. Both groups will receive crisis response planning (CRP). The study involves one session of counseling followed by several surveys over time. Participants will complete a baseline survey before the intervention, then surveys immediately after the session and at 1, 3, and 6 months afterwards. Researchers will measure changes in firearm storage behaviors, knowledge about firearm safety and suicide risk, intentions to store firearms securely, PTSD-related negative thoughts, and satisfaction with counseling. The primary outcome is secure firearm storage behavior assessed at 6 months. The study will last about 6 months for each participant, with ongoing assessments to monitor changes and safety.

Project Safe Guard-Trauma