PTSDPEER UPNCT06290778
Peer Delivered, Emotion Regulation-Focused Mental Health Prevention Training for Fire Fighter Trainees
A study testing Brief Unified Protocol and Psychoeducation in people with PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Baylor Research Institute at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a peer-delivered emotion regulation training (Brief-Unified Protocol) workshop is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms in firefighter trainees. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 21 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- PTSD, Alcohol Use Disorder, Depression
- What is being tested?
- Brief Unified Protocol and Psychoeducation
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 480 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 18 Jul 2024to Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 21 years of age or older
- English speaking
- Able to sign an informed consent form
- Able to complete the self-report assessment
- Willing to be contacted to complete post and follow-up assessments
Who cannot join
- Pregnant
- Have plans to relocate within two months of protocol initiation
- Report psychotic symptoms or suicidal behavior within the past 2 weeks
- Are currently dependent on substances other than tobacco or caffeine
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a peer-delivered emotion regulation training (Brief-Unified Protocol) workshop is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms in firefighter trainees. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower PTSD symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation?
- Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower AUD, depression, anxiety, and functional impairment symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation?
- Do changes in neuroticism or emotion regulation mediate the effect of receiving the Brief-Unified Protocol on the treatment outcomes?
Read more
Participants will:
- Participate in a Brief-Unified Protocol workshop or psychoeducation workshop during fire academy training.
- Complete a questionnaire prior to the workshop.
- Complete a questionnaire immediately following the workshop and follow up questionnaires at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after completing the fire academy.
Researchers will compare firefighters who receive a peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol workshop to firefighters who receive peer-delivered psychoeducation to see if the Brief-Unified Protocol is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms.
- Conditions
- PTSD, Alcohol Use Disorder, Depression, Anxiety
- Being tested
- Brief Unified Protocol, Psychoeducation
- Medical subject headings
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Alcoholism, Depression, Anxiety Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Brief Unified ProtocolBehavioural
The Brief Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders Unified Protocol.
PsychoeducationBehavioural
Psychoeducation regarding mental health challenges in fire service.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Unified Protocol | Experimental | This workshop includes education regarding basic human emotions, why we have emotions, how they help us, how they can get in the way, and how they are related to psychological health problems, including among firefighters. Skills that are helpful in managing strong or unwanted emotions will be taught and practiced during the workshop. A workshop manual will be provided. Brief videos summarizing the material will be emailed over the course of the month following the workshop. Receives: Behavioral: Brief Unified Protocol |
| Psychoeducation | Active comparator | This workshop provides education regarding signs and symptoms of psychological health challenges that are most commonly experienced by firefighters. These include posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and alcohol and substance misuse. This workshop is a standard part of fire academy training. A workshop manual will be provided. Brief videos summarizing the material will be emailed over the course of the month following the workshop. Receives: Behavioral: Psychoeducation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
PTSD Symptoms
PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5). Score Range: 0-80. Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Measured: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Secondary outcomes (4)
Alcohol Use Disorder symptoms
Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Score Range: 0-40. Higher scores indicate a higher likelihood of alcohol dependence.
Measured: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Depression symptoms
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Score Range: 0-27. Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Measured: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Anxiety symptoms
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7). Score Range: 0-21. Higher scores indicate greater severity.
Measured: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Functional Impairment
Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Score Range: 0-40. Higher scores indicate greater functional impairment.
Measured: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Mar 2024
- Study start18 Jul 2024
- Primary completionAug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for PTSDStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Baylor Research InstituteThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 480 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor Research Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, Texas A&M University
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06290778
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Baylor IRB #023-445
- Acronym
- PEER UP
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 26 Feb 2024
- Last updated
- 12 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Meyer EC, Farchione T, Kimbrel NA, Kwok OM, Pennington ML, Rostockyj J, Gulliver SB. Peer delivered, emotion regulation-focused mental health prevention training for fire fighter trainees: Design and methodology of a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2025 Aug 18;47:101537. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2025.101537. eCollection 2025 Oct.
PubMed 40893729
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Peer Delivered, Emotion Regulation-Focused Mental Health Prevention Training for Fire Fighter Trainees
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06290778
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PEER UP / Baylor IRB #023-445
- Conditions
- PTSD, Alcohol Use Disorder, Depression, Anxiety
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 480 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor Research InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Pittsburgh, Boston University, Texas A&M University
- Study start
- 18 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Mar 2024 (actual)
- 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.
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if a peer-delivered emotion regulation training (Brief-Unified Protocol) workshop is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms in firefighter trainees. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower PTSD symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation?
- Do firefighter recruits who receive peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol report lower AUD, depression, anxiety, and functional impairment symptom severity over time compared to those who receive psychoeducation?
- Do changes in neuroticism or emotion regulation mediate the effect of receiving the Brief-Unified Protocol on the treatment outcomes?
Participants will:
- Participate in a Brief-Unified Protocol workshop or psychoeducation workshop during fire academy training.
- Complete a questionnaire prior to the workshop.
- Complete a questionnaire immediately following the workshop and follow up questionnaires at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after completing the fire academy.
Researchers will compare firefighters who receive a peer-delivered Brief-Unified Protocol workshop to firefighters who receive peer-delivered psychoeducation to see if the Brief-Unified Protocol is effective for preventing posttraumatic stress and other psychological health symptoms.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Unified Protocol | Experimental | Behavioral: Brief Unified ProtocolThis workshop includes education regarding basic human emotions, why we have emotions, how they help us, how they can get in the way, and how they are related to psychological health problems, including among firefighters. Skills that are helpful in managing strong or unwanted emotions will be taught and practiced during the workshop. A workshop manual will be provided. Brief videos summarizing the material will be emailed over the course of the month following the workshop. |
| Psychoeducation | Active comparator | Behavioral: PsychoeducationThis workshop provides education regarding signs and symptoms of psychological health challenges that are most commonly experienced by firefighters. These include posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and alcohol and substance misuse. This workshop is a standard part of fire academy training. A workshop manual will be provided. Brief videos summarizing the material will be emailed over the course of the month following the workshop. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 21 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 21 years of age or older
- English speaking
- Able to sign an informed consent form
- Able to complete the self-report assessment
- Willing to be contacted to complete post and follow-up assessments
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Pregnant
- Have plans to relocate within two months of protocol initiation
- Report psychotic symptoms or suicidal behavior within the past 2 weeks
- Are currently dependent on substances other than tobacco or caffeine
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Brief Unified ProtocolThe Brief Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders Unified Protocol. | Behavioural | Brief Unified Protocol |
| PsychoeducationPsychoeducation regarding mental health challenges in fire service. | Behavioural | Psychoeducation |
Primary outcome
PTSD Symptoms
Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL-5). Score Range: 0-80. Higher scores indicate greater severity.
4 secondary outcomes
Alcohol Use Disorder symptoms
Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Depression symptoms
Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Anxiety symptoms
Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Functional Impairment
Time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Feb 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40893729Meyer EC, Farchione T, Kimbrel NA, Kwok OM, Pennington ML, Rostockyj J, Gulliver SB. Peer delivered, emotion regulation-focused mental health prevention training for fire fighter trainees: Design and methodology of a randomized controlled trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun. 2025 Aug 18;47:101537. doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2025.101537. eCollection 2025 Oct.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for PTSD
Not yet recruitingPhase 3
Women Who Are Victims of Violence: Treatment of PTSD Through Reactivation of Traumatic Memories Using Propranolol
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD
Enrolling by invitation
Brief Prolonged Exposure Therapy Versus Clinical Standard to Reduce Posttraumatic Stress Post Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord Injuries, PTSD
RecruitingPhase 4
The Effects of Orexin Antagonism on Fear Extinction in PTSD
Insomnia, PTSD
RecruitingPhase 2/3
Redefine Study: A Study Evaluating the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of COMP360 in Participants With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD
Recruiting
Advancing Skills Through Consultation, Education, and Novel Technologies
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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.
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 Brief Unified Protocol and Psychoeducation in people with PTSD and Alcohol Use Disorder, run by Baylor Research Institute 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 5 inclusion and 4 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: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Feb 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
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?
PTSD Symptoms (time frame: 6, 12, 18, and 24 months). 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 NCT06290778, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 12 Feb 2026.