Guided and Unguided Internet Treatment for Problematic Alcohol Use

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 10-week internet-based program based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in the treatment of alcohol problems, and if having therapist guidance leads to greater effects.

Detailed Description
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Objectives: An 10 week Internet-based self-help program based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was tested among Internet help seekers.The design was a three-armed randomized controlled design, and outcomes were measured in terms of changes in problematic alcohol use, as well as depression, anxiety and quality of life. 80 participants were recruited entirely online from an open access website and randomized into three different groups. All participants had access to the same self-help program. However, one group was given a choice between two forms of therapist guidance (messages or weekly chat sessions), one group received therapist guidance in the form of secure messages, and one group received no therapist guidance.

Official Title
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Guided and Unguided Internet Treatment for Problematic Alcohol Use: A Randomized Pilot Study

Conditions
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Alcohol Abuse, Alcohol Addiction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Choice
* Behavioral: Messages
* Behavioral: Self help


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: ≥ 18 years access to the Internet problematic alcohol use defined as ≥ 8 p or more for men and ≥ 6 p or more for women in the Alcohol Use Identification Scale Exclusion Criteria: • not adequately fluent in Swedish

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Choice<br>A self help program consisting of 8 modules. Patients will have access to therapist support through either messages or chat sessions | Behavioral: Choice<br>* A self help program consisting of 8 modules and access to therapist guidance either through messages or through chat sessions<br>|
| Experimental: Messages<br>A self help program consisting of 8 modules. Patients will have access to therapist support through messages | Behavioral: Messages<br>* A self help program consisting of 8 modules and access to therapist guidance through messages<br>|
| Active Comparator: Self help<br>A relapse intervention program consisting of 8 modules. Patients will have no access to therapist support | Behavioral: Self help<br>* A self help program consisting of 8 modules<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) | Change in total TLFB score (consumption during preceding week), as a summarized measure of alcohol consumption | Baseline and 10 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) | Change in total AUDIT score, as a summarized measure of alcohol use (including alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems) | Baseline and 10 weeks | 
| Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) | Change in total HADS score, as a summarized measure of depression and anxiety, respectively | Baseline and 10 weeks | 
| EQ5 | Change in total EQ5 score, as a summarized measure of quality of life | Baseline and 10 weeks | 
| WHOQOL-BREF | Change in total WHOQOL-BREF score, as a summarized measure of quality of life | Baseline and 10 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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randomized controlled trial, alcohol, internet, internet based therapy, cognitive behavior therapy