# Type I Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training for Veterans

> **NIH VA I01** · SYRACUSE VA  MEDICAL CENTER · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Background: VHA primary care Veterans often have psychological distress that impairs their
functioning, physical health and increases risk for suicide. This distress often goes untreated or
undertreated. Innovative interventions must align with patient preferences for the content (e.g.,
skill-based, transdiagnostic}, format (e.g., peer support} and location of services. Primary Care
Brief Mindfulness Training (PCBMT) is a series of 4 classes that teach mindfulness exercises to
manage psychological distress that is consistent with treatment preferences. PCBMT has been
shown to be effective in reducing psychological distress in two preliminary studies.
Significance: Results from this proposed trial could lead to more engagement in evidencebased
care, better Veteran health, and higher quality and more efficient VHA mental health
care. The proposal fits with HSR&D priorities (mental health, Whole Health) and ORD-wide
priorities to expand access to high-quality clinical trials, increase the real-world impact of
research and promote inclusion and equity.
Innovation and Impact: PCBMT is innovative via its delivery in primary care, use of a novel
staffing strategy (peers and WH partners) and it is a transdiagnostic approach. The methods of
this study are also innovative: 1) thls pragmatic clinical trial will maximize generalizability, 2) we
will test components of the novel Transtherapeutic Mindfulness Framework to help the scientific
community understand how mindfulness interventions impact psychological outcomes, 3) we
will explore how social determinants of health (SDoH) impact care, and 4) we will integrate
implementation science methods to guide future implementation efforts.
Specific aims:
1. Compare PCBMT to a transdiagnostic problem solving group (Moving Forward, MF).
We hypothesize that Veterans randomized to PCB MT will experience larger improvements in
psychological distress (DASS-21) than MF participants.
2. Test mediators and moderators of treatment gain in PCBMT and MF.
a. We hypothesize changes in transdiagnostic processes (e.g., psychological flexibility, thought
suppression) will mediate the relationship between mindfulness and psychological distress.
b. We will explore if SDoH (race, sex, ability to obtain necessities to live, safe housing)
moderate initiation, completion and clinical benefits of PCBMT and MF.
3. Assess implementation barriers and facilitators to inform future implementation efforts.
PCBMT facilitators and PACT and Whole Health administration will be interviewed following the
RCT to understand factors that served as barriers and facilitators to PCBMT implementation.
Methodology: The proposed study seeks to further test the effectiveness of PCBMT in three
VHA primary care settings that serve diverse Veteran populations and begin to understand
important implementation factors with a Hybrid Type l randomized controlled trial in primary care
patients with psychological distress.
Next Steps/ Implementation: Should our result...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10751221
- **Project number:** 1I01HX003626-01A2
- **Recipient organization:** SYRACUSE VA  MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kyle Possemato
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10751221

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10751221, Type I Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Trial of Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training for Veterans (1I01HX003626-01A2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10751221. Licensed CC0.

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