Distressed Respondent Protocol

NSDUH DSM-5 Cognitive Interviews

Distressed Respondent Protocol

Adult Respondents, interviewed at RTI office:

Distressed Adult Respondents

Interviewers will be trained to identify signs of distress by listening to verbal and observing non-verbal indicators (e.g., shakiness in the voice, changes in volume, crying, etc.). If an interviewer suspects the respondent is in distress, the interviewer will ask the respondent if he/she would like to take a break. If the respondent is too agitated to continue the interview, the interviewer will offer to reschedule the interview for a later date, ask if the respondent would like to speak with their health care provider, and say:

If you feel that you need to talk to someone about mental health issues, you can call the National Lifeline Network – 1-800-273-TALK. Counselors are available to talk at any time of the day or night and they can give you information about services in your area.

Or

If you feel that you need to talk to someone about drug use issues, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Treatment Referral Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP. This is a 24-hour service that will help you locate treatment options near you.

Adult Respondent Is Cognitively Impaired or Under the Influence

If interviewers encounter a respondent who is cognitively impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the interviewer will use sensitivity and good judgment to determine whether or not they are capable of participating in the study.  In situations where the respondent is not capable of completing the interview, the interviewer will tell the respondent today is not a good day to do the interview and indicate the interview will be rescheduled for a better time. If an interviewer has started the interview and it becomes clear the respondent is confused and not making sense, the interviewer will politely stop the interview and make an appointment to complete the interview at a later time. 

If the respondent poses a threat to themselves or others – for example it is clear they drove to the interview and the respondent is drunk – the interviewer will call campus security and describe the situation, and try to keep the respondent in the interviewing room until assistance arrives.

If any of these adverse events occur, the interviewer will complete an IRB event report and submit it to Scott Payne, David Hunter, and Becky Granger for submission to the IRB within 24 hours of the event.

Adult Respondents, interviewed at treatment facility:

Distressed Adult Respondents

Interviewers will be trained to identify signs of distress by listening to verbal and observing non-verbal indicators (e.g., shakiness in the voice, changes in volume, crying, etc.). If an interviewer suspects the respondent is in distress, the interviewer will ask the respondent if he/she would like to take a break. If the respondent is too agitated to continue the interview, the interviewer will offer to reschedule the interview for a later date and ask if the respondent would like to speak with the on-call counselor at the treatment facility.

Adult Respondent Is Cognitively Impaired or Under the Influence

If interviewers encounter a respondent who is cognitively impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the interviewer will use sensitivity and good judgment to determine whether or not they are capable of participating in the study.  In situations where the respondent is not capable of completing the interview, the interviewer will tell the respondent today is not a good day to do the interview and indicate the interview will be rescheduled for a better time. If an interviewer has started the interview and it becomes clear the respondent is confused and not making sense, the interviewer will politely stop the interview and make an appointment to complete the interview at a later time. 

If the respondent poses a threat to themselves or others – for example it is clear they drove to the interview and the respondent is drunk – the interviewer will describe the situation to staff at the facility, and try to keep the respondent in the interviewing room until assistance arrives.

If any of these adverse events occur, the interviewer will complete an IRB event report and submit it to Scott Payne, David Hunter, and Becky Granger for submission to the IRB within 24 hours of the event.

Adolescent Respondents:

Distressed Adolescent Respondents

Interviewers will be trained to identify signs of distress by listening to verbal and observing non-verbal indicators (e.g., shakiness in the voice, changes in volume, crying, etc.). If an interviewer suspects the respondent is in distress, the interviewer will ask the respondent if he/she would like to take a break. If the respondent is too agitated to continue the interview, the interviewer will offer to reschedule the interview for a later date and ask if the respondent would like to speak with the on-call counselor at the treatment facility.

Adolescent Respondent Is Cognitively Impaired or Under the Influence

If interviewers encounter an adolescent respondent who is cognitively impaired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the interviewer will use sensitivity and good judgment to determine whether or not they are capable of participating in the study.  In situations where the respondent is not capable of completing the interview, the interviewer will tell the respondent today is not a good day to do the interview and indicate the interview will be rescheduled for a better time. If an interviewer has started the interview and it becomes clear the respondent is confused and not making sense, the interviewer will politely stop the interview and make an appointment to complete the interview at a later time. 

The interviewer will not inform the parent or anyone at the treatment facility that the respondent is under the influence of a substance. The interviewer should inform the parents or staff that today is not a good day for the interview and they will reschedule it. Also, interviewers must not make any off-hand comments about the respondent to the parents or staff at the facility because sharing that the youth being under the influence at the facility could result in harm to that youth.

If any of these adverse events occur, the interviewer will complete an IRB event report and submit it to Scott Payne, David Hunter, and Becky Granger for submission to the IRB within 24 hours of the event.