Directly reinforcing abstinence from alcohol with monetary incentives is an effective treatment for alcohol dependence, but barriers in obtaining frequent, verified biochemical measures of abstinence limit the dissemination of this treatment approach. As our feasibility study demonstrates, remote breathalyzer monitoring drastically improves the practicality of delivering an alcohol contingency management intervention. In Experiment 2, we will test whether the addition of remote abstinence incentives to treatment as usual improves outpatient treatment outcomes and prevents relapse following inpatient detoxification at a regional hospital system. We will also assess whether readmission rates are reduced using a newly developed smartphone app and breathalyzer.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
91
Monetary incentives are delivered to participants contingent upon on-time breathalyzer submissions and verified abstinence from alcohol.
Monetary incentives are delivered to participants contingent upon on-time breathalyzer submissions only with no contingency on alcohol use.
University of Kentucky Healthcare
Lexington, Kentucky, United States
Virginia Tech Carilion
Roanoke, Virginia, United States
Pattern of abstinence from alcohol during intervention
Breathalyzer assessments will be collected during the treatment period. This outcome measure will consist of the percentage of days without alcohol use as detected by the breathalyzers.
Time frame: up to 66 weeks
Treatment acceptability
Participant ratings of treatment acceptability on a customized Treatment Acceptability questionnaire will be collected during assessment sessions. Each question will be scored from 1 (low) to 4 (high) and will assess distinct components of the treatment. Questions will be interpreted and scored individually and not be summed together.
Time frame: A total of 12 assessment sessions spanning over a 66 week period
Time to relapse
For this outcome, we will conduct survival analyses to compare relapse across study groups.
Time frame: A total of 12 assessment sessions spanning over a 66 week period
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