Testing the Efficacy of an Online Integrated Treatment for Comorbid Alcohol Misuse and Emotional Problems
Condition: Alcohol Use Disorder
MeSH terms: Alcoholism; Alcohol Drinking
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      Considering the high comorbidity between alcohol use disorders and emotional problems, there
      is currently a need for accessible, integrated treatments designed to target both disorders
      simultaneously. Evidence suggests that the combined use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
      (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI) may be effective at reducing the combined symptoms
      of the two disorders. However, much of the empirical work has focused on testing the
      usefulness of CBT/MI for alcohol misuse and comorbid depression, and the majority of these
      studies involve in-person treatment. Therefore, additional empirical research is required to
      determine the efficacy of combined CBT and MI for alcohol use and both anxiety and depression
      using an online intervention. This may help inform future treatments in this domain, and
      potentially be able to inform the development of online, accessible interventions for this
      population.

      Participants (N = 214) with elevated levels of alcohol use and emotional problems will be
      recruited from Central and Eastern Canada. Participants will be randomly assigned to either
      the treatment group (i.e., combined CBT and MI), or the psycho-educational control group.
      Individuals in the treatment group will be given 8-weeks to work through 12 online modules.
      Throughout the modules, participants will identify goals related to alcohol use and mood,
      learn strategies to cope with alcohol cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn how
      to prevent relapse. Modules will also include content designed to target anxiety and
      depression, focusing on strategies designed to help reduce negative thinking and worry,
      increase behavioural activation, and increase self-care (e.g., relaxation techniques, sleep
      hygiene). Participants randomly assigned to the control (i.e., psycho-education) condition
      will receive links to websites that provide general psychoeducation about alcohol and mental
      illness. All participants will complete online assessment measures at baseline, at the end of
      treatment, and at follow-up approximately 4 months later) in order to assess the efficacy of
      the treatment. At the end of the study, individuals in the control group will be given full
      access to the treatment.
    


Intervention name(s): Integrated Online CBT and MI
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): The treatment condition will have access to 12 treatment modules and have 8-weeks to complete them. The content of all modules is derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Through module engagement, young adults will identify goals related to alcohol use and mood, learn strategies to cope with alcohol cravings, triggers, and social pressures, and learn how to prevent relapse. There will also be several modules to target anxiety and depression, focusing on strategies designed to help reduce negative thinking and worry, increase behavioural activation, and increase self-care (e.g., sleep hygiene).Participants will have immediate access to all modules, and it will be recommended that they work through the modules sequentially.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: A two-arm RCT will be conducted to evaluate the proposed online intervention. Eligible participants will be randomized to either the online integrated treatment condition, or the psycho-educaton (i.e., control) condition.
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Alcohol Use Disorder; Emotional Disorder; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy; Motivational Interviewing; Online Intervention; Randomized Controlled Trial