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Treatment of Chronic Anger and Aggression Following Military-Related Betrayal

Assessment and Treatment of Chronic Anger and Aggression Following Military-Related Interpersonal and Institutional Betrayal: A Pilot Investigation

Who can join

Ages 18 and older · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult active duty military service members and veterans aged 18 or older.
* Endorses a history of military-related betrayal (on the Modified Moral Injury Questionnaire)
* Endorses problematic anger in the past month (as evidenced by a score of 12 or above on the Dimensions of Anger Reactions; DAR-5)
* Engaged in at least 1 self-reported act of aggression in the past 1 month (on the Overt Aggression Scale-Modified; OAS-M)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Participated in an anger management or trauma-focused intervention within the past 3 months as assessed by self-report.
* Acute suicidality requiring immediate intervention, such as hospitalization as assessed by the Depressive Symptoms Index-Suicidality Subscale (DSI-SS) combined with follow up clinical interview for elevated scores.
* Is currently homicidal with plans and intent to hurt a specific person and requiring immediate intervention as measured by self-report and follow-up with clinician if screened positive.
* Moderate to severe brain injury as measured by inability to comprehend the informed consent document or baseline assessments.
* Has severe alcohol consumption patterns as evidenced by a score of 19 or above on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT).
* Experiencing active psychosis or mania as measured by the Prodromal Questionnaire-Brief Version and the Mood Disorders Questionnaire.

About the study

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a treatment designed to deal with anger and aggression from a past betrayal will work. The study will be done on active duty military service members and veterans aged 18 or older. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Will participants be satisfied with the treatment, and is the treatment feasible to do in a military outpatient setting * Will the treatment help with anger and aggression issues.

Researchers will compare differences in groups that have different wait times (2-, 3-, or 4-weeks).

Participants will complete surveys before, during and after the treatment. The treatment will be 14 modules given twice a week. About 1 month after treatment ends, surveys will be taken again.

What is being tested

• Countering Chronic Anger and Aggression Related to Trauma and Transgressions (CART) (behavioral)

Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio · Participants: 40 · Started: Mar 17, 2025

Contact the study team

• Vanessa Jacoby, PhD · Phone: (254) 289-3468
• Alan Peterson, PhD · Phone: (210) 562-6700

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT06609330

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Aggression

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.