The overall aim of this pilot study is to conduct a preliminary trial to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of adding a transdiagnostic, emotion-focused group intervention (the Unified Protocol, UP) to treatment as usual (TAU) in a comprehensive outpatient program for adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders and emotional distress. Only patients seeking services or engaged in care at an existing outpatient program at MGH (the Addiction Recovery Management Service) are eligible for participation.
Young adults with substance use disorder (SUD) commonly experience co-occurring emotional distress in the form of affective/emotional disorders (i.e. anxiety, depressive, and related disorders) and self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs). Based on the conceptualization of emotion dysregulation as a transdiagnostic treatment target, the current study utilizes the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) to target core psychopathological processes related to emotion dysregulation that underlie SITBs and emotional disorder pathology. Given its transdiagnostic format, the UP has the potential to address comorbidity among the emotional disorders (and other functionally similar problems such as SUDs) simultaneously and more comprehensively than single-diagnosis treatments. Patients seeking services or currently engaged in care at an existing comprehensive outpatient program for adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders (the MGH Addiction Recovery Management Service) are eligible for this study. Participants will be randomized 2:1 to receive either UP + TAU or TAU alone. The adjunctive UP intervention consists of 16 twice-weekly group sessions (delivered over an 8-week period) designed to deliver transdiagnostic, emotion-focused CBT strategies.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
56
The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP) is an evidence-based psychological intervention designed to be applied across anxiety, depressive, and other disorders in which emotion dysregulation is central. The UP targets shared temperamental vulnerabilities to emotional disorders through emotion-focused CBT strategies.
Treatment as Usual consists of some combination of group therapy, individual therapy, and/or psychopharmacology appointments at an existing comprehensive outpatient program for adolescents and young adults with substance use disorders.
Massachusetts General Hospital Addiction Recovery Management Service
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Acceptability of Adding UP Group Intervention to TAU
Participants in the UP condition will complete the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) at post-treatment to assess acceptability of and satisfaction with the experimental intervention. Range of the scale is 8 (minimum) to 32 (maximum), with higher scores indicating greater levels of satisfaction with treatment received.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Feasibility of Adding UP Group Intervention to TAU
Percentage of participants who dropout from treatment during the 8 week study period in the UP+TAU condition will be compared to the percentage of those who drop out from treatment in the TAU condition.
Time frame: 8-week treatment period
OASIS
Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) administered at post-treatment. Total scores range from 0-20; higher scores indicate higher levels of anxiety.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Depressive Symptoms Scale (ODSIS)
Measured with the Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS) at post-treatment. Total scores range from 0-20; higher scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Suicidal Ideation
Measured with the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSI) at post-treatment. Total scores range from 0-38; higher scores indicate higher levels of suicidal ideation.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Number of Participants Who Reported Nonsuicidal Self-injury in the Past Month
Measured with the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI) at post-treatment.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Commitment to Sobriety
Measured with the Commitment to Sobriety Scale (CSS) at post-treatment. Total scores range from 5-30; higher scores indicate higher levels of commitment to sobriety.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Substance Craving
Measured with a three-item craving scale at post-treatment. Total scores range from 0-27; higher scores indicate higher levels of substance craving.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
Percentage of Past 30 Days Abstinent From Substances
Operationalized with the percentage days abstinent (PDA) in the past 30 days, measured via Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) at post-treatment.
Time frame: At the end of the 8-week treatment period
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.