The VIP trial: a randomised controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness of a Victim Improvement Package (VIP) for the reduction of continued symptoms of depression or anxiety in older victims of community crime in an English city
Abstract
Background Older crime victims may be particularly vulnerable to psychological distress. Objectives To compare the clinical effectiveness of a Victim Improvement Package (VIP) to treatment as usual (TAU) for reducing continued crime-associated distress. Design A three-step parallel-group single-blind randomised controlled trial. Setting Police-reported victims of community crime aged 65 and over were recruited from 12 local authority areas in a major urban city in England, UK. Participants Selection criteria—inclusion: victims of community crime aged 65 years or more, with significant Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) distress associated with the crime. Exclusion: type of crime, diagnosis, receipt of cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) in the last 6 months; an inability to participate in CBT; cognitive impairment. Participants were typical of our local authority population; 71% were female, 69% white, with the majority of crimes associated with burglary (35%) and theft (26%). 67% (88/131) of the randomised participants were included in the primary analysis. Interventions TAU was compared with TAU plus up to 10 sessions of a cognitively-behaviourally informed VIP, delivered by a mental health charity over 12 weeks. Primary and secondary outcome measures Timings are in relation to the crime; baseline (3 months), post-VIP intervention (6 months) and follow-up (9 months). The primary outcome was a composite of the Beck Anxiety and Beck…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 226 participants or records.
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