Exploring Deployment Stress and Reintegration in Army National Guard Chaplains

Completed

Conditions studied: Combat Stress Disorder

In brief

The purpose of this 2-year pilot study is to explore the impact of deployment on the psychosocial and health characteristics and reintegration of Military Chaplains, specifically those of the Army National Guard (ARNG). This pilot will serve as the foundation for subsequent investigations of chaplains from multiple branches of the military. In addition to spiritual and religious support, Military Chaplains play a key role in the behavioral health of deployed service-members, routinely participating in suicide prevention training, conducting critical event debriefing, and identifying service-members at risk for combat and operational stress reactions1. A high risk group for exposure to trauma2, Military Chaplains have suffered brain injuries, gunshot wounds and blast injuries in OEF/OIF Theater3. In addition, many report combat related stress issues such as compassion fatigue, PTSD, and reintegration issues3. While the traumatic experiences of OEF/OIF deployed troops have been well documented, the effects on military chaplains caring for these service-members have received little attention in the research to date. We are collaborating with the National Guard Chaplain Corps Leadership on this program of research. The aims of this 2-year pilot cross-sectional study focus on describing and exploring deployment and its impact on psychosocial, health characteristics and reintegration of ARNG chaplains using a mixed method approach (web-based survey, in-depth interviews, social network analysis).

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01330888

Run by

US Department of Veterans Affairs

People needed

102

Starts

2011-04-01

Expected to finish

2013-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2015-02-19

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• current, active members of ARNG during timeframe of OIF/OEF/OND
• Chaplains
• able to be contacted by email for survey explanation and participation
• consent to participate in interview or network questionnaire

You may not qualify if…

• not current, active members of ARNG during timeframe of OIF/OEF/OND
• not Chaplains
• not able to be contacted by email for survey explanation and participation
• do not consent to participate in interview or network questionnaire

Where it is running

• James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital — Tampa, Florida, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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