Post-9/11 Veterans and Their Partners Improve Mental Health Outcomes with a Self-directed Mobile and Web-based
Janet R Kahn1, William Collinge, Robert Soltysik
1College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States. Janet.Kahn@uvm.edu.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|September 29, 2016
Summary
A web-based wellness program significantly improved mental health and well-being for Global War on Terror veterans and their partners. The Mission Reconnect (MR) program demonstrated sustained use and reduced symptoms like PTSD, depression, and pain.
Area of Science:
- Psychology and Behavioral Health
- Military and Veteran Health
- Digital Health Interventions
Background:
- Global War on Terror veterans experience significant psychological, physical, and family challenges post-deployment.
- These challenges contribute to a growing public health crisis requiring innovative, accessible interventions.
- There is a need for strategies that promote long-term adjustment and well-being for veterans and their families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based, self-directed wellness program for Global War on Terror veterans and their partners.
- To assess the program's impact on mental health and wellness outcomes during postdeployment readjustment.
- To determine if the program promotes skills for daily life to improve veteran and partner well-being.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 160 veteran-partner dyads across four US regions.
- Randomly assigned dyads to Mission Reconnect (MR) program, MR plus relationship enhancement, relationship enhancement alone, or waitlist control.
- Administered assessments at baseline, 8, and 16 weeks; MR participants received web/app-based instruction in mindfulness and partner massage.
Main Results:
- MR program participants used the program an average of 20 times/week, totaling 2.5 hours/week, with sustained use at 16 weeks.
- Significant improvements observed in PTSD, depression, sleep quality, perceived stress, resilience, self-compassion, and pain for MR participants.
- Partner massage use correlated with reduced pain, tension, irritability, anxiety, and depression.
Conclusions:
- Veterans and partners successfully learned and sustained use of MR program wellness practices.
- Home-based, self-directed interventions are valuable for veterans unable to access traditional services.
- The MR program offers an accessible, low-cost approach to enhance well-being and reduce symptoms for post-9/11 veterans and partners.
