The US Veteran community continues to feel the impact of the overdose crisis, and opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnoses among Veterans continue to rise. Medication treatment (e.g., buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone) helps prevent relapse and reduce overdose risk, but does not help with the psychological, social, and functional challenges of early recovery. Therapies that focus on interpersonal functioning and community integration may help improve quality of life during this high-risk period. This research project will create and test a brief, values-based treatment to help Veterans improve their interpersonal functioning and community integration during early treatment. This study will have three phases. Phase 1 will involve the development of the treatment and adaptation using interviews with Veterans and VA Providers. Phase 2 will test the treatment with a group of 10 Veterans to make sure the treatment can be delivered as intended, and to make changes to the treatment or study procedures based on Veteran feedback. Finally, Phase 3 will test the treatment compared to usual treatment in a pilot randomized controlled trial with a group of 40 Veterans. This final phase will provide additional information about Veterans' experience of the treatment and study procedures and the preliminary effects of the treatment on quality of life and related outcomes.

The current project will develop and pilot a brief, manualized intervention for improving Veterans' interpersonal functioning, community reintegration, and quality of life during early medication treatment for OUD. The research outlined in the current proposal will yield the necessary information to determine whether a fully powered randomized controlled trial of the intervention is warranted through completion of work outlined in Stages 1a (Phases 1 & 2) and 1b (Phase 3) of the NIH Stage Model for Behavioral Intervention Development.

Update 6 2026: Based on recruitment rates for the second phase of this acceptability and feasibility project as well as broader trends in the addiction and treatment development research literature, modifications to Phase 3 included: 1. Expanding "time since medication initiation" to 12 months (from 3 months); and 2. Replacement of the planned Pilot RCT with a second, larger open trial.

Phase 1: Initial Development (13 months): In Phase 1, the initial treatment manual will be developed and revised using feedback from key stakeholders. After semi-structured stakeholder interview guides are developed in parallel with the initial manual, qualitative data from interviews with Veterans (n = 18) and VA providers (n = 16) will guide manual adaptations.

Phase 2: Open Pilot (14 months): The manual development process will continue via an open pilot trial with n = 10 Veterans in early buprenorphine treatment, with recruitment to begin in the second month of the first quarter of Year 2. This initial field test will allow for the further refinement of the treatment manual and study protocol based on Veteran feedback and the experience of conducting the trial and delivering the intervention. Phase 2 will also involve the development of treatment adherence measures and training procedures for study therapists and adherence raters.

Phase 3: Pilot Feasibility Trial (33 months): The final phase of the proposed research will involve a Stage 1b pilot trial. A sample of n = 40 Veterans will receive the finalized intervention. This pilot will provide an opportunity to evaluate the refined intervention and assessment procedures and to assess feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. As an exploratory aim, this phase will also provide preliminary data for intervention effects on primary outcomes of interpersonal functioning, community reintegration, and quality of life, as well as secondary outcomes of interest (e.g., substance use) and candidate process measures. Results of this phase will be critical for informing the feasibility of a subsequent, fully powered RCT of the resulting intervention.

PHASE 1: INITIAL DEVELOPMENT

Phase 1 will focus on the development of a brief, 4-session values intervention to improve interpersonal functioning and community reintegration during early medication treatment for OUD. This phase will begin with the development of the treatment manual and stakeholder interviews by the PI and the mentorship team. Next, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with stakeholders, including n = 16 VA providers (evenly divided between prescribers and therapists) and n = 18 Veterans, evenly divided between those in early buprenorphine treatment (n = 6), sustained treatment (n = 6), and Veterans who opted to leave buprenorphine treatment within the first month (n = 6). Finally, stakeholder interview data will be analyzed and used to guide adaptations to the initial manual.

Initial manual content, development & revision. The initial intervention structure consists of four weekly 50 minute sessions focused on values clarification, committed action, and planning a life in recovery. Manual revisions will occur in an iterative manner during the proposed research, incorporating stakeholder feedback from Phase 1 and Phase 2. Changes may include adaptations to the language, the order of session content, and supplementary content for the intervention. De-identified examples from Veteran stakeholders may be used to enhance the relevance of the intervention for the Veteran population.

Rationale for and focus of stakeholder interviews. Semi-structured interview protocols for stakeholders will be developed with mentorship support. These interviews will assess providers' and Veterans' experiences with and impressions of the role of personal values in recovery from OUD and initial impressions of the planned intervention. Through this process of collecting and incorporating feedback early in the development timeline, this project will yield a novel intervention that has been designed with input from key stakeholders within VA.

Recruitment and Screening. Stakeholder recruitment will take place over the course of 8-9 months (~4 interviews per month). Providers (n = 16) will be evenly split between prescribers (MD, NP, PAs) and therapists (PhD, LICSW, LMHC). With permission of clinic directors, the PI will join local addiction treatment program meetings to announce the study and provide contact information for interested providers. Veterans (n = 18) will also be recruited for individual stakeholder interviews, and will be split between those in early buprenorphine treatment (<1 month), sustained buprenorphine treatment (>1 year), and those who have discontinued treatment in the first month at some point over the past year. Interested participants will be instructed to contact the Principal Investigator or the study research coordinator directly. During the scheduling process, age, buprenorphine treatment status, duration of treatment episode, and safety with respect to suicide risk or need for detoxification treatment will be confirmed using simple scripted screener questions. Consultant Dr. Dongchan Park, who provides the largest proportion MOUD treatment at VA Bedford HCS, and will assist the PI with recruitment efforts across all phases.

Interview Procedures. Provider and Veteran stakeholders will first provide informed consent. Veteran stakeholder interviews will include an abbreviated clinical interview to confirm eligibility. Semi-structured stakeholder interviews will consist of broad, open-ended questions with specific probes to allow the interviewer to follow up on areas of particular interest. The use of initial, broad, questions will help provide an overall view of provider and Veteran perspectives on the role of values-oriented recovery goals in OUD treatment. In the final portion of the interviews, provider and Veteran impressions of the format and focus of the intervention will be assessed by sharing an overview of the planned intervention similar to Table 3 (with expanded explanations of session content). It is anticipated that interviews will last no more than 60 minutes. All interviews will be recorded and transcribed verbatim with the assistance of a VA-approved transcription service.

Data Management. All data including audio recorded interviews, transcripts, and qualitative analysis notes will be stored on VA servers behind VA firewall. Files will be password protected, and only active study staff will have access. To the extent possible given their focus area, recorded interviews will not include participant names or other identifying information, though additional procedures as outlined in section 4.b.2 of the Human Subjects section will provide additional protection for these files. Files will be linked to participants using ID numbers that are not connected to participant information.

Analytic Plan. The 34 (16 Provider, 18 Veteran) audio-recorded stakeholder interviews will be transcribed verbatim, yielding qualitative data for Aim 1. The sample size for each group was chosen based on previous work which examined the number of interviews required to reach "saturation," or the point at which additional, new insights are unlikely to emerge from additional data. A coding team consisting of the PI and a research assistant will conduct a directed content analysis, using rapid analysis methods to inform the adaptation of the manual. Rapid analysis is conducive to the timeline of the current project, and has recently been shown to yield similar themes when compared to more in depth analytic methods. Matrix analysis methods will also facilitate comparisons among themes and between the stakeholder groups.

PHASE 2: PILOT OPEN TRIAL Treatment development activities will continue through Phase 2 of the proposed project, an open trial with a sample of n = 10 Veterans who recently started medication treatment. Specifically, this open trial will provide an opportunity to field test and refine the initial intervention in pursuit of the following sub-aims: (a) further revise the manual and study procedures based on study metrics and Veteran feedback, and (b) develop therapist training, adherence and competency measures, and training for application of adherence and competency measures for the intervention.

Recruitment & Screening. Veterans will be recruited during the initial, intensive stage of outpatient treatment to participate in the study. Similar to the process for Veteran recruitment in Aim 1, basic screening questions for inclusion and safety will be completed as part of the scheduling process for the baseline visit.

Procedures. Following brief screening and scheduling, study participation will include three assessment and four intervention sessions. Every effort will be made to complete sessions and assessments in-person, if VA infection control policy permits. Priority will be placed on completing all visits and assessments in the same format both within and across participants. A copy of the consent form, treatment workbook, and visual scales for assessment measures will be mailed immediately following screening and scheduling for any Veterans who complete study sessions remotely.

Assessment Procedures. The three study assessments will occur separately from intervention sessions, and will take place at baseline, post-treatment (after session 4), and 3-month and 6-month follow up. An independent evaluator who is not involved in the study intervention will conduct all study assessments and will be supervised by the Principal Investigator, a licensed clinician. At the baseline visit, informed consent will include a brief set of comprehension questions to confirm understanding and ability to provide consent. Measures are estimated to require approximately 90-120 minutes for baseline and 60 minutes for each of the follow up assessment sessions. Every effort will be made to conduct all assessment sessions with Veterans regardless of whether they complete all intervention sessions.

Assessment Protocol & Measures. Opportunities to refine the assessment protocol in this pilot work will be explored in Phases 1 and 2 using (1) individual measure completion rates, (2) assessment session duration, and (3) Veteran feedback in qualitative interviews. In addition to further refining the manual and study procedures, the main focus of Phase 2 will be establishing the initial feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Measures for Phase 2 and Phase 3 will include diagnostic and demographic measures to confirm eligibility, measures capturing acceptability of and satisfaction with the intervention, interpersonal and community functioning, quality of life, and substance use treatment adherence.

Intervention sessions. Intervention sessions will be delivered by the candidate in Phase 2, as is typical for this phase of the intervention development process. Each session is designed to last approximately 50 minutes and occur on a weekly basis. In order to allow scheduling flexibility for Veterans, sessions will be completed within a six-week window. The initial intervention content for each of the four sessions is outlined in Table 2, though adjustments may be made during the initial manual development process and based on feedback from stakeholders in Phase 1.

Data Management. Session recordings will password protected and stored securely on a VA server in the same manner as stakeholder interviews in Phase 1. All physical data will be securely stored under lock and key in file cabinets in Building 5 at the main campus of VA Bedford HCS. Local data files will be stored directly to a secure VA drive. The study contact log, used to monitor consented, enrolled participants, will also be password protected, will not include study data, and will be maintained in accordance with VA policy.

Intervention & Study Protocol Revisions (Aim 2a). In coordination with mentors, further revisions to the manual will be made using qualitative interview feedback from Veterans who complete the intervention (sub-aim 2b), together with any necessary changes identified through the process of delivering the intervention in this open pilot phase. A priori benchmarks for feasibility and acceptability to be used in Phase 3 will serve as guides for adaptations the intervention and study procedures in preparation for Phase 3. Refinement of the assessment protocol will be guided by (1) individual measure completion rates, (2) total time spent in each assessment session, and (3) Veteran feedback in qualitative interviews.

Development of adherence measures and therapist training procedures (Aim 2b). Therapist adherence and competence scales will be developed by adapting existing rating forms that Dr. Kelly has used across multiple ACT studies. This rating system is designed to assess use of broadly defined ACT-consistent therapeutic strategies, appropriate use of specific ACT techniques from a given manual, and the absence of techniques that are inconsistent with ACT-based interventions. All therapy sessions will be digitally recorded and reviewed to identify the necessary adherence and competence measure components for this brief, simplified intervention. Phase 2 will also include the development of a program for training study therapists to deliver this simplified ACT intervention. Finally, therapists will be evaluated for adherence and competence throughout the trial. This training program will be implemented in Phase 3.

PHASE 3: PILOT FEASIBILITY TRIAL Phase 3 will provide an opportunity to examine (a) the feasibility and acceptability of the finalized intervention and study protocol, and (b) the preliminary effects of the intervention on primary outcomes of interpersonal functioning, community reintegration, and quality of life, and secondary outcomes of substance use and treatment adherence.

Procedures. Recruitment and screening will follow the same procedures and timeline as Phase 2. Interested participants will receive the active (n = 40) treatment from one of a team of study therapists, whose adherence will be evaluated.

Assessment Procedures. The three study assessment sessions will follow the same timeline as Phase 2 for both study groups, using the same measures as Phase 2. Post-treatment qualitative interviews will be conducted with each group. The independent assessor for this phase will be blinded to participant study condition. Every effort will be made to conduct all assessment sessions with Veterans regardless of whether they complete all intervention sessions. The therapist adherence and competence scales that were developed and refined in Phase 2 will be piloted in Phase 3. Therapists who fall below the adherence threshold will receive further training and supervision. As part of this process, the rater training procedure for the adherence and competence scales to be used in the subsequent fully powered randomized controlled trial will also be developed.

Intervention Procedures Active Condition: All intervention sessions will be delivered by a team of at least two Clinical Psychology postdoctoral fellows. Initial training and supervision will be provided weekly by Dr. Ameral, with as needed support and guidance from Dr. Kelly and Dr. Weisberg, who both have experience in the training and supervision of study interventionists. The intervention will otherwise be delivered following the same procedures as Phase 2 unless adaptations are indicated based on feedback from that phase.

Data Management & Analytic Plan. Data management will follow the same procedures as Phase 2. Presentation and publication of results from this final phase will focus on evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and trial design for a subsequent fully-powered RCT (Aim 3a). Effect size estimates for the subsequent proposal will not rely solely on the current study, given the limitations of effect size estimates from pilot studies. Examinations of outcome and process measures will be exploratory in nature (Aim 3b).

Final revisions to manual. In coordination with mentors, final revisions to the manual will be made based on qualitative interview feedback from Veterans who complete the intervention, together with any changes identified based on the experience of conducting the intervention. Any adjustments will be selected with careful consideration of the relative benefits versus the costs of changing the intervention between pilot and fully-powered RCT phases.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Meets current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual - 5th Edition criteria for moderate to severe opioid use disorder
• Phase 2: Within 12 weeks of initiating buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone treatment for opioid use disorder following at least 2 months without treatment; Phase 3: Within 12 weeks of initiating buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone treatment for opioid use disorder following at least 2 months without treatment
• Competent to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Evidence of active psychosis or mania
• Suicidality requiring inpatient hospitalization
• Active substance use requiring detoxification
• Cognitive impairment that would interfere with study participation

In Phase 3, assessment sessions will be conducted by an independent assessor.