Hazardous alcohol consumption is common among people suffering from depression. There are effective Internet interventions that target hazardous alcohol consumption or depression separately but none that combine these online interventions without the involvement of a therapist. This study aims to evaluate the effects of combining an Internet intervention targeting hazardous alcohol consumption with one for depression on drinking and depressive symptoms.
A double-blinded, parallel group randomized controlled trial will be used. Participants with current depression who also drink in a hazardous fashion (N=986) will be recruited for a study to 'help improve an online intervention for depression.' Participants will be assigned, by chance, to receive MoodGYM or to receive MoodGYM plus a brief Internet intervention for hazardous alcohol consumption - Check Your Drinking (CYD). Participants will be contacted 3- and 6-months after receiving the interventions to assess changes in drinking and depression status. It is predicted that participants receiving the CYD intervention in addition to MoodGYM will reduce their alcohol consumption to a greater extent than those who just received MoodGYM. Further predictions include the impact of receiving Check Your Drinking on improvements in depressive symptoms.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
988
The MoodGYM Internet intervention will employ the latest version of MoodGYM (Mark 4) which has been updated to support mobile devices. The core design and function of the program has not been altered. A major focus of this intervention is to provide individuals with behavioral and cognitive strategies to improve depression symptoms.
Internet intervention designed to assess and provide feedback on hazardous alcohol use. The CYD has been subjected to seven randomized trials from two independent research groups, all of which displayed a significant impact of the CYD to reduce hazardous alcohol consumption compared to controls.
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Number of drinks in a typical week
Change in number of drinks in a typical week from baseline
Time frame: 3 and 6 months
CES-D
Change in depressive symptoms using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D) from baseline. Total score range from zero to 60 with higher scores indicating more symptomatology.
Time frame: 3 and 6 months
AUDIT-C
Change in AUDIT-C score (consumption subscale from the AUDIT) from baseline
Time frame: 3 and 6 months
Alcohol consequences
Change in number of alcohol consequences from baseline
Time frame: 3 and 6 months
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