MindfulnessNCT02521454
A Pilot Trial of Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training Among Police Officers
A study testing MBRT in people with Mindfulness, run by Pacific University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Successful policing requires rapid and unbiased decision-making, well-developed emotion regulation skills, and psychological resilience. However, law enforcement officers (LEOs) are frequently exposed to intensive work-related stress and trauma, and consequently, are at elevated risk of adverse mental health outcomes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 to 55 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Mindfulness
- What is being tested?
- MBRT
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 61 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- Aug 2015to Jul 2018
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 21 to 55 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- full-time, active status, sworn-in law enforcement officers in the Portland Metro area
Who cannot join
- previously completed MBRT or MBSR course
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Successful policing requires rapid and unbiased decision-making, well-developed emotion regulation skills, and psychological resilience. However, law enforcement officers (LEOs) are frequently exposed to intensive work-related stress and trauma, and consequently, are at elevated risk of adverse mental health outcomes. These mental health issues in turn are some of the primary mechanisms underlying other- and self-directed violence among LEOs. The excessive use of force by LEOs, including unjustified shootings, frequently captures national headlines and is considered by many to be one of the most serious and divisive human rights issues in the United States. Previous research suggests that LEOs can be impacted by various factors when making rapid decisions while using firearms, including a lack of careful consideration of contextual factors and unconscious racial stereotypes. This is especially true when their cognitive and emotional resources are compromised due to factors such as stress. Similarly, key precursors to suicide among LEOs include chronic stress, exposure to trauma, alcohol misuse, and depression. The substantial personal, social, and economic costs of LEO stress, including unjustified shootings and suicide, suggest a clear need for innovative and novel prevention programs to promote well-being and reduce violence. Given its demonstrated impact on many of the precursors to self- and other-directed violence among LEOs, one possible approach is an adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction (MBSR) program, developed specifically for LEOs. Therefore, the primary objectives of this proposal are to: (1) assess the feasibility of recruitment, adherence to program intervention, and compliance with assessment instruments, and (2) determine the impact of an adapted MBSR program (Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training; MBRT) on precursors to other- and self-directed violence, and in promoting psychological resilience and emotion regulation among LEOs. There is promising preliminary evidence suggesting that mindfulness is an effective strategy for LEOs to decrease stress and its negative outcomes, enhance resilience and emotion regulation, and ultimately reduce other- and self-directed violence. The proposed project will test the impact of MBRT using a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT). This research will generate important information on the feasibility of recruitment, adherence to program intervention, and compliance with assessment instruments, and data obtained through the proposed study will build on the investigators existing work to provide support for a larger RCT examining the efficacy of MBRT in reducing violence.
- Conditions
- Mindfulness
- Being tested
- MBRT
- Keywords
- policing, resilience, implicit bias, violence
- Medical subject headings
- Bias, Implicit
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
MBRTBehavioural
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| MBRT | Experimental | Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training Receives: Behavioral: MBRT |
| WL Control | No intervention | waitlist control group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Depression Scores on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Measured: 6 months
Decision Making as measured by the Shooter Bias Task
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted13 Aug 2015 (estimated)
- Study startAug 2015
- Primary completionJul 2018
- Study completionJul 2018
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for MindfulnessStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 61 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Pacific University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michael Christopher, PhD, Pacific University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02521454
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1R21AT008854-01
- Status last verified
- Aug 2018
- First submitted
- 6 Aug 2015
- Last updated
- 29 Aug 2018
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: We are committed to advancing knowledge in the scientific community and the role that data sharing takes in this endeavor. We commit to compliance with NIH policies regarding sharing of unique research resources and compliance with the NIH Principles and Guidelines for Recipients of NIH Research Grants and Contracts on Obtaining and Disseminating Biomedical Research Resources (64 FR 72090, December 23, 1999). The data generated in this grant will be presented at national or international conferences and published in a timely fashion. All final peer-reviewed manuscripts that arise from this proposal will be submitted to the digital archive PubMed Central.
Publications
Christopher MS, Hunsinger M, Goerling LRJ, Bowen S, Rogers BS, Gross CR, Dapolonia E, Pruessner JC. Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial. Psychiatry Res. 2018 Jun;264:104-115. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.059. Epub 2018 Mar 23.
PubMed 29627695Christopher M, Ferry M, Simmons A, Vasquez A, Reynolds B, Grupe D. Psychometric properties of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-short form among law enforcement officers. Aggress Behav. 2024 Mar;50(2):e22145. doi: 10.1002/ab.22145.
PubMed 38477412Kaplan J, Bergman AL, Green K, Dapolonia E, Christopher M. Relative Impact of Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Flexibility on Alcohol Use and Burnout Among Law Enforcement Officers. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Dec;26(12):1190-1194. doi: 10.1089/acm.2020.0178. Epub 2020 Oct 5.
PubMed 33017172
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 Aug 2018. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Pilot Trial of Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training Among Police Officers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02521454
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1R21AT008854-01
- Conditions
- Mindfulness
- Keywords
- policing, resilience, implicit bias, violence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 61 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Pacific UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Aug 2015 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jul 2018 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jul 2018 (actual)
- First posted
- 13 Aug 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Successful policing requires rapid and unbiased decision-making, well-developed emotion regulation skills, and psychological resilience. However, law enforcement officers (LEOs) are frequently exposed to intensive work-related stress and trauma, and consequently, are at elevated risk of adverse mental health outcomes. These mental health issues in turn are some of the primary mechanisms underlying other- and self-directed violence among LEOs. The excessive use of force by LEOs, including unjustified shootings, frequently captures national headlines and is considered by many to be one of the most serious and divisive human rights issues in the United States. Previous research suggests that LEOs can be impacted by various factors when making rapid decisions while using firearms, including a lack of careful consideration of contextual factors and unconscious racial stereotypes. This is especially true when their cognitive and emotional resources are compromised due to factors such as stress. Similarly, key precursors to suicide among LEOs include chronic stress, exposure to trauma, alcohol misuse, and depression. The substantial personal, social, and economic costs of LEO stress, including unjustified shootings and suicide, suggest a clear need for innovative and novel prevention programs to promote well-being and reduce violence. Given its demonstrated impact on many of the precursors to self- and other-directed violence among LEOs, one possible approach is an adapted Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction (MBSR) program, developed specifically for LEOs. Therefore, the primary objectives of this proposal are to: (1) assess the feasibility of recruitment, adherence to program intervention, and compliance with assessment instruments, and (2) determine the impact of an adapted MBSR program (Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training; MBRT) on precursors to other- and self-directed violence, and in promoting psychological resilience and emotion regulation among LEOs. There is promising preliminary evidence suggesting that mindfulness is an effective strategy for LEOs to decrease stress and its negative outcomes, enhance resilience and emotion regulation, and ultimately reduce other- and self-directed violence. The proposed project will test the impact of MBRT using a pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT). This research will generate important information on the feasibility of recruitment, adherence to program intervention, and compliance with assessment instruments, and data obtained through the proposed study will build on the investigators existing work to provide support for a larger RCT examining the efficacy of MBRT in reducing violence.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| MBRT | Experimental | Behavioral: MBRTMindfulness-Based Resilience Training |
| WL Control | No intervention | –waitlist control group |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 to 55 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- full-time, active status, sworn-in law enforcement officers in the Portland Metro area
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- previously completed MBRT or MBSR course
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| MBRT | Behavioural | MBRT |
Primary outcome
Depression Scores on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)
Time frame: 6 months
Decision Making as measured by the Shooter Bias Task
Time frame: 8 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 Aug 2018.
- Results publication: PubMed 29627695Christopher MS, Hunsinger M, Goerling LRJ, Bowen S, Rogers BS, Gross CR, Dapolonia E, Pruessner JC. Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial. Psychiatry Res. 2018 Jun;264:104-115. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.059. Epub 2018 Mar 23.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38477412Christopher M, Ferry M, Simmons A, Vasquez A, Reynolds B, Grupe D. Psychometric properties of the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire-short form among law enforcement officers. Aggress Behav. 2024 Mar;50(2):e22145. doi: 10.1002/ab.22145.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 33017172Kaplan J, Bergman AL, Green K, Dapolonia E, Christopher M. Relative Impact of Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and Psychological Flexibility on Alcohol Use and Burnout Among Law Enforcement Officers. J Altern Complement Med. 2020 Dec;26(12):1190-1194. doi: 10.1089/acm.2020.0178. Epub 2020 Oct 5.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. We are committed to advancing knowledge in the scientific community and the role that data sharing takes in this endeavor. We commit to compliance with NIH policies regarding sharing of unique research resources and compliance with the NIH Principles and Guidelines for Recipients of NIH Research Grants and Contracts on Obtaining and Disseminating Biomedical Research Resources (64 FR 72090, December 23, 1999). The data generated in this grant will be presented at national or international conferences and published in a timely fashion. All final peer-reviewed manuscripts that arise from this proposal will be submitted to the digital archive PubMed Central.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing MBRT in people with Mindfulness, run by Pacific University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 Aug 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Depression Scores on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02521454, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 Aug 2018.