Using Telephone Technology to Prevent Relapse After Alcoholism Treatment

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether a telephone based self-help program will prevent relapse among individuals undergoing standard substance abuse treatment.

Detailed Description
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Relapse rates in the first few months following substance abuse treatment are as high as 50%, in spite of the immediate effectiveness of treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Continuing use of therapy skills following treatment is associated with maintenance of treatment gains. We have programmed a telephone to deliver pre-recorded summaries and rehearsal sessions of skills learned in therapy. The system also includes monthly feedback messages from therapists. We expect that this ad-lib access to therapy skills would allow patients to generalize skills to their personal post-treatment lives. It would also allow individuals in remote or rural areas to obtain access to assistance without travel barriers. Comparison(s): patients completing group CBT for substance abuse will be randomly assigned to two conditions. In one condition, patients will have unlimited access to the therapeutic telephone system for 4 months. The other condition is standard care (i.e., no formal relapse prevention).

Official Title
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Therapeutic IVR to Augment CBT in Alcohol Dependence

Conditions
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Alcoholism

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Daily monitoring of alcohol & drug use, & therapy skills
* Behavioral: control group


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Meets current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence Active drinking during the three months prior to entry into treatment Minimum age of 19 Minimum sixth grade reading level. Exclusion Criteria: Meets criteria for a current psychotic illness Imminent plans to move or be incarcerated Presence of such severe hearing, visual, or cognitive deficit(s) that participation in CBT or use of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system are not possible Inability to identify at least one locator person to assist in tracking for follow-up assessments Does not have telephone service within the home Incarceration while in active protocol in the study Attendance of less than 8 of 12 CBT sessions

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 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: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: 1 Therapeutic Phone System<br>patients assigned to this condition will have unlimited access to the therapeutic telephone system for 4 months. | Behavioral: Daily monitoring of alcohol & drug use, & therapy skills<br>* Comparison(s): patients completing group CBT for substance abuse will be randomly assigned to two conditions. In one condition, patients will have unlimited access to the therapeutic telephone system for 4 months. The other condition is standard care (i.e., no formal relapse prevention).<br>* Other names: relapse prevention;|
| Active Comparator: 2 Standard care<br>Standard post-CBT care (i.e., no formal relapse prevention or professional treatment). | Behavioral: control group<br>* standard care (no added treatment)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Amount of alcohol and use | drinks per day, drinks per drinking day, percent days abstinent, heavy drinking days | 4 months and one year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Utilization of the telephone system components during the study | call rate, access of coping skills reviews and practices, access of monthly messages. | 4 months and one year | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Cognitive Therapy, Recurrence, Prevention, Educational Technology