Increasing treatment‐seeking intentions of US veterans in the Covid‐19 era: A randomized controlled trial

Background Veterans have higher rates of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and may be vulnerable to mental health consequences of the Covid‐19 pandemic. More than half of veterans who meet mental illness criteria do not seek help. This study screened for clinical symptoms and evaluated the efficacy of a brief, online social‐contact‐based video intervention in increasing treatment‐seeking intentions among veterans. We hypothesized that the video‐based intervention would increase treatment‐seeking intentions more than written vignette and control conditions. Methods One hundred seventy‐two veterans were randomized to either a (a) brief video‐based intervention; (b) written vignette intervention, or (c) nonintervention control group. In the 3‐min video, a veteran previously diagnosed with PTSD described his symptom reactivation by Covid‐19, his barriers to care, and how therapy helped him to cope. Assessments were conducted at baseline, postintervention, and at 14‐ and 30‐day follow‐ups. Results A total of 91 (53%) veterans reported high levels of clinical symptoms, especially those self‐reporting Covid‐19 exposure. The brief video‐based intervention yielded greater increase in treatment‐seeking intentions among veterans. Within the video group, women showed an increase in treatment‐seeking intentions from baseline to postintervention only, whereas men showed a more sustained effect, from baseline to Day 14. Conclusions Surveyed veterans reported high symptoms levels. A brief video intervention increased treatment‐seeking intention, likely through identification and emotional engagement with the video protagonist. This easily disseminable video‐based intervention has the potential to increase likelihood of seeking care. Future research should examine longer term sustainability and changes in help‐seeking behavior.