NCT04793776 · ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression (MERA)
This trial tests a 3-session behavioral therapy called MERA — Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression — against a control therapy in veterans with PTSD who struggle with impulsive aggression. Researchers want to know whether teaching emotion regulation skills can reduce aggressive outbursts and help veterans feel ready to engage in standard PTSD treatment. This is a Phase NA study, meaning it is evaluating a behavioral approach rather than a drug.
You may qualify if
- Male and female Veterans who deployed to combat zones since 9/11
- Currently meets criteria for full or subthreshold post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting Veterans who have served since 9/11. Veterans with PTSD report difficulty controlling impulsive aggression (IA). An inability to manage one's emotions (emotion dysregulation) is an underlying mechanism of IA. Reducing IA and increasing use of PTSD evidence-based psychotherapies are two critical missions for the Veterans Health Administration. The proposed research supports these missions by comparing a 3- session emotion regulation treatment (Manage Emotions to Reduce Aggression) to a control group in order to determine if MERA can reduce IA and prepare Veterans for PTSD treatment. By enhancing Veterans' abilities to cope with trauma-related emotions and feel equipped to initiate PTSD treatments, this research aims to help Veterans decrease IA and ultimately recover from PTSD, determined by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5
- Engaged in at least 3 self-reported aggressive acts (e.g., yelling, throwing objects, hitting objects/people) in the last month, measured by the Overt Aggression Scale
- Impulsive aggression is his/her primary form of aggression, determined by the Impulsive Premeditated Aggression Scale
- Each Veteran must allow an independent aggression rater (live-in partner, family member, or roommate above 18 years of age) verify the number of aggressive acts, using the Overt Aggression Scale
- Agreement not to change psychotropic medications through the duration of the study
You're excluded if
- Currently suicidal with intent of self-harm in the last week
- Currently homicidal with plans to hurt a specific person
- Unable to complete self-report measures
- Meets diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder or psychotic disorder
- Had a psychotropic medication change within 4 weeks prior to the baseline assessment. Veterans receiving general mental health services or engaging in usual care will be allowed to participate
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-10-02