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Pilot Study of Behavioral Activation-Guided Self-Help for Depression in Veterans

This study is testing a program called Behavioral Activation-Guided Self-Help (BA-GSH) for Veterans experiencing depression. BA-GSH is a self-help program that you would follow with guidance from a provider. The study aims to see if this approach can help more Veterans get care for depression, especially through the VA's primary care mental health services. To join, you need to be a patient at the study site, score between 10 and 20 on a depression questionnaire (PHQ-9, indicating moderate to moderately severe depression), and be able to read English materials for the self-help program. The researchers will look at how many people join, how well the program works by checking your PHQ-9 scores, and how many people complete the program. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is a pilot randomized trial, meaning participants will be assigned by chance to different groups. It plans to enroll 30 participants.
What's involved
You would participate in a self-help program that requires reading materials and tracking your work between meetings with a provider. Your depression symptoms will be measured at the start and again 16-20 weeks later.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your progress will be followed for 16-20 weeks after the start of the study.

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

NCT07541482

Pilot Randomized Trial of BA-GSH in VA PC-MHI

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~30 participants
Updated 2026-04-21 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Behavioral Activation-Guided Self-Help

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Participant recruitment
Measured over Baseline, 16-20 weeks post-baseline
+4 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Depression

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Depression

NCT07541482

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.

  • Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

    Houston, Texasstudy coordinator listed

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

Study leadership

  • Maribel Plasencia, BA MS PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

Who to contact

Maribel Plasencia, PhD
[email protected]
(713) 440-4400
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

participants will be included in the study if they are patients at the study site
score a 10 to 20 on the PHQ-9 (moderate to moderately severe)
can follow the self-help program, which requires reading materials in English and documenting/tracking work between meetings with a provider

Exclusion

score greater than 10 on the GAD-7
PCMHI ineligible (i.e., in specialty mental health)
currently enrolled in a VA or non-VA psychotherapy that would interfere with the study intervention
participants will also be excluded if demonstrating high risk of suicidal ideation/behavior based on the C-SSRS
cognitive impairment conditions that may interfere with the ability to complete the program
conditions that threaten safety (e.g., uncontrolled psychosis, mania/bipolar, moderate to severe substance use disorders)

What this trial measures

  • Participant recruitmentBaseline, 16-20 weeks post-baseline

    This proportion will be presented as the number of patients recruited into the study program over the number of patients potentially eligible.

  • Preliminary Effectiveness: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)Baseline, 16-20 weeks post-baseline

    The PHQ-9 measures depressive symptom severity over the previous two weeks. Participants self-report how often they have experienced a particular symptom on a scale of 0 to 3 (0 = not at all and 3 = nearly every day).

  • AttritionBaseline, 16-20 weeks post-baseline

    This proportion will be presented as the number of patients who discontinue the program over the total number of recruited participants over the trial period.

  • Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-816-20 weeks post-baseline

    The CSQ-8 evaluates general satisfaction with a service and scores range from 8 to 32. Higher scores indicate higher satisfaction.

  • Program Completion16-20 weeks post-baseline

    This proportion will be presented as the number of patients who complete 70% of the intervention over the total number of patients recruited into the study arm.