Who is eligible for clinical trial NCT05897021?

Participants must meet protocol criteria for Depressive Symptoms. Confirm exact inclusion and exclusion requirements with the study coordinator.

Does clinical trial NCT05897021 provide travel or cost reimbursement?

Check with the site coordinator at the participating facility for travel and lodging stipend availability, and for which routine-care costs are covered.

🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2026-01-29

Expressive Writing on Minority Stressors Among Sexual Minority Veterans (NCT05897021)

🟢 Recruiting Observational / Diagnostic 🧠 Behavioral & Psychological Program Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

Sexual minority stressors (e.g., sexual minority identity-based discrimination) contribute to greater risk for and severity of depression, anxiety, substance use disorders and suicide among sexual minority Veterans. However, no brief, scalable, one-on-one interventions targeting sexual minority stressor-related distress are available in Veterans Affairs (VA) for sexual minority Veterans. The proposed research will examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a brief, 3-session expressive writing intervention to target distress related to sexual minority stressor exposure among sexual minority Veterans. The results of this work will advance knowledge about a promising brief and easy to implement intervention focused on reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms among sexual minority Veterans. This proposal aligns with VA's and CSR\&D's commitment to providing equitable services to sexual minority Veterans and the aim of reducing health disparities among underserved Veteran groups.

Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (5 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (5 items).

Location: VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA — Boston, Massachusetts

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Check every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).

Participants will be Veterans who:
identify as a sexual minority (i.e., identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, queer, or another identity other than heterosexual)
endorse clinically significant depressive or anxiety symptoms (score above 10 on the PHQ-9 or GAD-7)
report a history of sexuality-based minority stressor exposure that is contributing to distress on phone screening
be stable on psychotropic medication for at least 4 weeks if on a psychotropic medication

Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:

Exclusion Criteria: The exclusion criteria for Veterans in this study are:
clear and current suicidal plan and/or intent (assessed via the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale)
current presentation of unstable mania and/or psychosis (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
current substance use disorder, severe (assessed via the Structured Interview for DSM-5)
significant cognitive impairment, including evidence of moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, determined by an inability to comprehend baseline screening questionnaires

🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MA — Boston, Massachusetts

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗