Mobile Anger Reduction Intervention for Veterans with PTSD

This study is testing two mobile apps for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and problematic anger. One app, called Mobile Anger Reduction Intervention (MARI), uses techniques to help you interpret situations less hostilely. The other app, Health Education Condition (HED), provides videos on healthy habits. Researchers want to see if MARI can better reduce anger and improve daily life compared to HED. You may be able to join if you are a Veteran with a PTSD diagnosis and a certain level of anger, and your psychiatric medications have been stable for three months. The study will look at how many participants reduce their problematic anger after one month, three months, and six months. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This study will involve about 150 participants who will be randomly assigned to use either the MARI app or the HED app.
What's involved
You will download an app and be instructed to use it at least 5 times a week for 4 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for six months after the initial treatment period to assess anger levels.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06094933

Mobile Anger Reduction Intervention

Recruiting
NAAll AgesInterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~150 participants
Updated 2025-10-20 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Mobile Anger Reduction Intervention (MARI)Health Education Condition (HED)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
number of participants below the clinical cut off for problematic anger
Measured over Post-treatment (approx. one month after baseline assessment)
+5 more outcomes measured
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Anger

NCT06094933

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

    Durham, North Carolinastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Kirsten H Dillon, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Veterans diagnosed with PTSD, established via chart review and a score of greater than or equal to 33 on the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)
Reporting a score of greater than or equal to 12 on the 5-item Dimensions of Anger Reactions Scale
Have not had any changes to type or dose of psychiatric medications for 3 months, with no plans to make adjustments in the next 6 months
Able to read at least 6th grade level material

Exclusion

Currently in a period of active psychosis or mania
Exhibit current prominent suicidal or homicidal ideation requiring immediate intervention
Have used the MARI application before as part of another research study
Receiving (or plan to receive) other anger management psychotherapy or trauma-focused therapy for PTSD (i.e., prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy during the course of the study
  • number of participants below the clinical cut off for problematic angerPost-treatment (approx. one month after baseline assessment)

    Measured with the Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 scale; scores range from 5-25, with higher scores indicating higher levels of problematic anger; the clinical cut off is 12. The investigators will count the number of participants in each group who have a score lower than 12.

  • number of participants below the clinical cut off for problematic anger6-month follow-up

    Measured with the Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 scale; scores range from 5-25, with higher scores indicating higher levels of problematic anger; the clinical cut off is 12. The investigators will count the number of participants in each group who have a score lower than 12.

  • number of participants below the clinical cut off for problematic anger3-month follow-up

    Measured with the Dimensions of Anger Reactions-5 scale; scores range from 5-25, with higher scores indicating higher levels of problematic anger; the clinical cut off is 12. The investigators will count the number of participants in each group who have a score lower than 12.

  • number of participants with decreased hostile interpretation bias scoresfrom baseline to post-treatment assessments (approx. one month after baseline assessment)

    Measured with the Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility, hostility subscale. Scores range from 1-6, with higher scores indicating higher levels hostile interpretation bias. The investigators will count the number of participants in each group who have a reduction in scores within the time frame.

  • number of participants with decreased hostile interpretation bias scoresfrom baseline to 3-month follow-up

    Measured with the Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility, hostility subscale. Scores range from 1-6, with higher scores indicating higher levels hostile interpretation bias. The investigators will count the number of participants in each group who have a reduction in scores within the time frame.

  • number of participants with decreased hostile interpretation bias scoresfrom baseline to 6-month follow-up

    Measured with the Word Sentence Association Paradigm-Hostility, hostility subscale. Scores range from 1-6, with higher scores indicating higher levels hostile interpretation bias. The investigators will count the number of participants in each group who have a reduction in scores within the time frame.