Using Telephone Technology to Prevent Relapse After Alcoholism Treatment

University of Vermont158 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a telephone based self-help program will prevent relapse among individuals undergoing standard substance abuse treatment.

Relapse rates in the first few months following substance abuse treatment are as high as 50%, in spite of the immediate effectiveness of treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Continuing use of therapy skills following treatment is associated with maintenance of treatment gains. We have programmed a telephone to deliver pre-recorded summaries and rehearsal sessions of skills learned in therapy. The system also includes monthly feedback messages from therapists. We expect that this ad-lib access to therapy skills would allow patients to generalize skills to their personal post-treatment lives. It would also allow individuals in remote or rural areas to obtain access to assistance without travel barriers. Comparison(s): patients completing group CBT for substance abuse will be randomly assigned to two conditions. In one condition, patients will have unlimited access to the therapeutic telephone system for 4 months. The other condition is standard care (i.e., no formal relapse prevention).

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

158

Conditions

Alcoholism

Interventions

Daily monitoring of alcohol & drug use, & therapy skillsBEHAVIORAL

Comparison(s): patients completing group CBT for substance abuse will be randomly assigned to two conditions. In one condition, patients will have unlimited access to the therapeutic telephone system for 4 months. The other condition is standard care (i.e., no formal relapse prevention).

control groupBEHAVIORAL

standard care (no added treatment)

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 19 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Meets current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence * Active drinking during the three months prior to entry into treatment * Minimum age of 19 * Minimum sixth grade reading level. Exclusion Criteria: * Meets criteria for a current psychotic illness * Imminent plans to move or be incarcerated * Presence of such severe hearing, visual, or cognitive deficit(s) that participation in CBT or use of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system are not possible * Inability to identify at least one "locator" person to assist in tracking for follow-up assessments * Does not have telephone service within the home * Incarceration while in active protocol in the study * Attendance of less than 8 of 12 CBT sessions

Locations (1)

UVM Health Behavior Research Center

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Amount of alcohol and use

drinks per day, drinks per drinking day, percent days abstinent, heavy drinking days

Time frame: 4 months and one year

Secondary Outcomes

Utilization of the telephone system components during the study

call rate, access of coping skills reviews and practices, access of monthly messages.

Time frame: 4 months and one year

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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