Network Support for Treatment of Alcohol Dependence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Relapse is the most serious problem in alcoholism treatment. The overall aim of the present study was to determine if a treatment directed at changing the patient's social network, from one that reinforces drinking behavior to one that reinforces sobriety, can create the conditions necessary for long-term treatment success. In addition, we intended to determine if explicit reinforcement for this change of social network (Contingency Management or ContM) would be more effective than the same network support intervention without contingent reinforcement for change.

Official Title
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Network and Contingency Management for Alcohol Treatment

Conditions
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Alcohol Dependence

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Network Support


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: meet DSM-IV criteria for Alcohol Dependence at least 18 years old Willing to accept random assignment to treatment conditions Exclusion Criteria: acute medical or psychiatric problems that require inpatient treatment reading ability below the fifth grade level lack of reliable transportation to the treatment site excessive commuting distance to site current dependence on drugs (except marijuana)

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: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: Case Management<br> | Behavioral: Network Support<br>* 12 Weekly sessions intended to help patients change their social networks to be more supportive of abstinence<br>|
| Experimental: Network Support<br>12 Weekly sessions intended to help patients change their social networks to be more supportive of abstinence | Behavioral: Network Support<br>* 12 Weekly sessions intended to help patients change their social networks to be more supportive of abstinence<br>|
| Experimental: Network Support + Contingency Mgmnt<br>12 weekly sessions intended to help patients change their social networks to be more supportive of abstinence. Contingency management component added to reinforce efforts to make network changes. | Behavioral: Network Support<br>* 12 Weekly sessions intended to help patients change their social networks to be more supportive of abstinence<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proportion Days Abstinent |  | Every 3 months out to 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Network Support for Abstinence |  | every 6 months out to 2 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Network Support, AA, Contingency Management