University of Colorado, Denver
The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to determine if an interactive digital solution, Man Therapy, reduces indices of problematic anger in male military service members who screen positive for problematic anger. The man questions this study aims to answer are: * Does Man Therapy reduce indices of problematic anger? * Does Man Therapy reduce psychosocial correlates of anger? Researchers will also examine if the effects of those aims differ based on a participant's history of a mild TBI, the mechanism of a primary mild TBI, and/or the number of mild TBIs. Researchers will compare Man Therapy to a waitlist control. This will help determine if Man Therapy works better than no treatment. Participants will: * Complete a baseline survey * Be randomized to intervention or waitlist control * If randomized to intervention, participants will receive the intervention and complete a survey immediately after the intervention and at 1-, and 3-months following the intervention * If randomized to waitlist control, participants complete surveys at 1-, and 3-months and have the opportunity to complete the intervention following the 3-month survey
Problematic anger is highly prevalent among military service members. Among service members, problematic anger prospectively predicts suicidal ideation, even after controlling for other psychiatric disorders. Existing approaches designed to reduce anger have not been shown to satisfactorily impact clinical outcomes across populations, and among service members receiving treatment for PTSD, anger is one of the few symptoms that persists even if a PTSD diagnosis subsides. Thus, there is a need to adapt existing problematic anger treatments for service members. Man Therapy is an interactive digi…
Inclusion Criteria: * Military service member * Identify as male * Aged 18+ years * Positive problematic anger screen (DAR-3 \>8) * Ability to read, write, and speak English * Currently located in the U.S. Exclusion Criteria: * Active psychosis or acute mania necessitating clinical intervention * Acute thoughts of self- or other-harm necessitating imminent clinical intervention (e.g., hospitalization) * Expect to be deployed outside of the continental United States in the next 3 months * Unable to provide informed consent
Man Therapy is an interactive digital solution that uses humor and straightforward language to circumvent traditional barriers to accessing mental health care, such as stigma. A core Man Therapy module focuses on anger, helping recipients to understand its causes and associated mitigating and potentiating factors, as well as teaching recipients accessible, easy-to-implement anger mitigation strategies, such as cognitive retraining and paced breathing. Participants will be given a list of content regarding anger to view and interact with in the Man Therapy website and encourages to explore the website further. They will then review and interact with materials for at least 20 minutes and up to 45 minutes in a single session.