Clinical trial NCT00708890: Twelve Step Based Self-help Groups for Substance Related Disorders
Official title: Twelve Step Based Self-help Groups for Substance Related Disorders - A Randomized Controlled Trial on a Detoxification Center
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Substance Use Disorders
Keywords: Substance use disorders
Self-help groups
Twelve Step groups
Lead sponsor: Sorlandet Hospital HF
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
First posted: 2008-07-02
Enrollment: 140
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The Twelve Step groups are the most available and widespread self-help groups for patients with alcohol or drug related disorders. In a public health perspective, self-help groups (SHGs) may be considered as a supplement to professional treatment and provide aftercare soon as professional treatment has ended.

There is a need to investigate if U.S. findings and procedures concerning referrals from the health services to Twelve Step Groups (TSGs) can be replicated and accommodated to a cultural setting which is unfamiliar with these groups. There is also a particular need in the Norwegian treatment system to develop alternative treatment strategies for patients undergoing detoxification to improve their chances of long-term recovery, due to deficient formal follow-up alternatives.

We plan to carry out a RCT-study. One hundred and sixty patients entering a detoxification treatment center (Addiction Unit, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway) will be assigned to two different groups: One given standard information about TSGs (brief advice) and one given intensive referral (motivational sessions and contact with TSG volunteers). A follow up assessment is planned at 6 months to determine whether intensive referral results in more TSG attendance, and if this mediates less substance use and better functioning outcomes.

This study introduces a new concept in the Norwegian health care system and relies on a systematic cooperation with user organizations (SHGs) and user volunteers. Thus the study focuses strongly on user resources.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with alcohol and substance use disorders treated on a detox ward

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe psychiatric comorbidity
* Patients on opioid replacement therapy
* Those who have appointment with other inpatient treatment at intake (and will be transferred to such treatment)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Self-help groups attendance and involvement during 6 months observation period.
timeFrame: Six months after detox treatment
Secondary outcomes:
measure: 1)Substance use outcomes measured by Europ-ASI 2) Quality of Life
timeFrame: 6 months after detox treatment
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Kristiansand
country: Norway
facility: Sørlandet Sykehus
state: VA
Study officials:
References:
citation: Vederhus JK, Timko C, Kristensen O, Clausen T. The courage to change: patient perceptions of 12-Step fellowships. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011 Dec 15;11:339. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-339.
citation: Vederhus JK, Timko C, Kristensen O, Hjemdahl B, Clausen T. Motivational intervention to enhance post-detoxification 12-Step group affiliation: a randomized controlled trial. Addiction. 2014 May;109(5):766-73. doi: 10.1111/add.12471. Epub 2014 Feb 16.