Clinical Research Directory

OurRelationship for Veteran Couples

Access to a flexible spectrum of family-based VA mental health care for Veterans is mandated by law. Research shows that relationship distress harms Veterans' mental health, physical health, and mortality, while healthy relationships provide resilience and facilitate recovery from illness. However, there are many barriers to accessing couple and family care within VA, including system-level barriers such as insufficient access to specialty providers and couple-level barriers such as difficulty coordinating schedules and finding childcare. OurRelationship is an evidence-based, coached online intervention for couples that provides flexible, accessible, and scalable treatment to improve relationship functioning. This proposed CDA-2 project will test whether OurRelationship is effective for improving Veterans' intimate relationships and supporting their rehabilitation. This study supports the mission of the 2018-2024 Strategic Plan of the Department of Veterans Affairs by improving Veterans' relationship functioning to enhance their overall quality of life.

Get Better Together: Relationship Education For Military Couples

This study is testing a program called Get Better Together, a relationship education program designed to help military couples effectively navigate life stressors as a team. The goal is to find out if attending Get Better Together improves mental health and relationship skills, and reduces problems like alcohol misuse, aggression, and suicide risk. Couples who join the study will be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will attend Get Better Together at a weekend retreat. The other group will continue their usual activities and later receive access to an online relationship education program. All participants will complete surveys before the retreat and again 2, 4, and 6 months later.

OurRelationship-S: A Digital Relationship-Strengthening Program for Couples Experiencing Substance Misuse

This study tests the effectiveness of an online relationship program that has been tailored for couples in which one or both members are in recovery from substance misuse. The purpose of this program is to strengthen the romantic relationship and improve individual functioning. Couples participate in approximately 8 hours of digital content (on their phone or computer) and have a total of five calls with a project coach. Couples will be asked to complete online surveys before and after the program and are paid $200 per couple ($100 per individual) for doing so.

Comparing Brief Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy in Reducing Relationship Distress

This study compares the effects of two different couple therapy approaches-Brief Psychoanalytic Couple Therapy (BPCT) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)-on reducing relationship problems and emotional symptoms like depression and anxiety. Many couples struggle with emotional distance, repeated arguments, and dissatisfaction in their relationships. While EFT is a widely used and research-supported therapy that focuses on rebuilding emotional bonds, BPCT is a less-studied method that aims to help couples understand how early relationship experiences and unconscious patterns affect their current interactions. The purpose of this study is to find out whether one of these therapies is more effective than the other in improving relationship satisfaction and reducing emotional distress. The study also looks at changes in how people regulate their emotions and how secure they feel in their relationships after therapy. In this randomized controlled trial, 60 heterosexual couples experiencing relationship distress and symptoms of anxiety or depression will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: BPCT group - couples receive weekly online therapy focusing on deep emotional and psychological patterns in their relationship. EFT group - couples receive weekly online therapy focusing on emotional connection and improving communication. Waitlist control group - couples do not receive therapy during the study but will be offered therapy afterward. Each therapy lasts 12 weeks, and follow-up assessments will be conducted up to 6 months after therapy ends. Data will be collected before, during, and after treatment using questionnaires that measure relationship satisfaction, depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, and attachment style. The results of this study will help determine which type of therapy is more beneficial for couples experiencing emotional and relational difficulties and may provide important insights for mental health professionals working with distressed couples.

Relationship Checkups to Reduce Veteran Suicide Risk

This study compares two approaches to working with Veterans that have a mix of mental health and relationship concerns in primary care. One approach is a 3-session couple-based program called the Brief Relationship Checkup (BRC). BRC has shown promise improving relationship health in Air Force primary care (including some mental health symptoms related to relationship functioning) but has never been tested for individuals with significant mental health concerns. The other approach is a high-quality delivery of three sessions of Co-Located Collaborative Care (CCC) with the Screened Veteran only. This program is the current standard of care for Veterans reporting mental health concerns in primary care (including mental health concerns related to their relationship) but has never been tested for individuals struggling with relationship concerns. The goal is to compare the benefits of the couples-based program vs. the individual-based program when it comes to reducing suicide risk factors at the relationship level and the individual level.

"Walking Together with Love": a Couples-Based Intervention for Sexual and Relationship Distress in Cancer Patients

Cancer diagnosis and treatment often result in significant changes in body appearance, sexual functioning, and relationship quality, leading to distress for both patients and their partners. To address these challenges, a comprehensive intervention program called "Walking Together with Love" (WTL) has been developed. This intervention focuses on three key areas: improving body image (supporting patients in accepting physical changes after cancer treatment), enhancing psychological flexibility (enabling patients and partners to openly and positively manage difficult experiences), and strengthening dyadic coping skills (promoting effective communication and emotional support between partners). The primary aim of this intervention is to reduce sexual and relationship distress among cancer patients and their partners. WTL is a six-week program consisting of weekly 90- to 120-minute sessions delivered in a hybrid format (both online and offline). Sessions incorporate psychoeducational presentations, group discussions, professional guidance, and structured home assignments. Both patients and their partners participate together, collaboratively working toward improving relationship quality and overall well-being. Cancer patients, their partners, and healthcare providers are encouraged to learn more about this research project and explore its potential benefits in improving quality of life for couples affected by cancer.