Motivational Interviewing (MI) to Reduce Khat Use

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Healthy khat user with the intention to reduce or stop khat use will be randomly assigned to a one-session brief intervention or waiting list. Reductions in khat use will be measured from pre- to post-assessment which will be one month apart. After one month, the waiting list will receive the same intervention.

Detailed Description
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The leaves of the khat tree are traditionally chewed in some African and Arab countries. They contain the mild central stimulant cathinone. In recent years, the production, trade and use has dramatically increased and excessive patterns of use as well as a specific dependence syndrome have been described. So far, no experiences exist in psychological treatment of khat addiction. In this study, we use a brief motivational intervention based on the WHO's ASSIST-linked Brief Intervention and Motivational Interviewing to support users who have the intention to reduce or stop their khat use. Khat users will be recruited in the community. Trained local staff will assess participant's khat and other substance use at study entry and one month later. Users will be assigned randomly to intervention or waiting list control groups. The intervention group will receive a single 20-minute brief intervention. The waiting list will receive the same intervention after the second assessment. After two months, a final assessment will be made in both groups.

Official Title
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Evaluation of Motivational Interviewing (MI) to Reduce Khat Use Among Somali Refugees in Kenya

Conditions
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Khat Use Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: modified ASSIST-linked Brief Intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy individuals Exclusion Criteria: Severe psychiatric disorders

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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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Waiting list<br>Participants will assessment only during study, same intervention after posttest | |
| Experimental: Intervention<br>Participants assigned to this arm will receive the modified ASSIST-linked Brief Intervention | Behavioral: modified ASSIST-linked Brief Intervention<br>* Trained counsellors support participant's motivation to reduce or stop khat use in a 20 minute counselling session.<br>* Other names: Motivational Interviewing;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time-Line-Follow-Back: Self-reported days with khat use and amount of khat use | Participants report in a calender for each day of the past month whether they used khat and how much of it. | one month | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time-Line-Follow-Back: other substance use | Participants report for each day of the past month whether they used other substances of abuse, i.e. alcohol, illegal drugs | One month |