Clinical trial NCT01323738: Effect of Psychoeducation on Motivation to Change in Traumatized Alcoholics
Official title: Effect of Psychoeducation on Motivation to Change in Traumatized Alcoholics
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic
Keywords: Psychoeducation
Group Control
Lead sponsor: University of Konstanz
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2011-03-28
Enrollment: 50
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: Many people suffering from alcohol dependence have a history of exposure to stressful life situations, such as childhood physical or emotional misuse. Often, there's a functional relationship between drinking and emotional problems related to past traumatic experiences, i.e. drinking to forget. However, alcohol treatment often does not include interventions to support patients to cope better with past life experiences. On the other hand, most alcoholics are poorly motivated to participate in long-term rehabilitative treatments after detoxification. In the proposed study, the investigators will study the effects of a brief psycho-educational group intervention during detoxification treatment on motivation to change and the willingness to accept further treatment.

The investigators will use a group comparison design (intervention versus "TAS" control group). In month 1, patients take part in Treatment as Usual (TAS), including a unspecific information group. In month 2, the information group is replaced by the psychoeducational group (intervention). Ward staff selects patients for the groups, irrespective of intervention or TAS. Selection criteria are: absence of severe withdrawal and cognitive impairment. Absence of severe co-morbid psychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia or suicidal crisis). The group sessions will take place in groups of up to 15 patients and will include 4 structured sessions (45 min each). Main content if the intervention group is to highlight and discuss the association between stress, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and drinking. Patients will also be informed about the different treatment options available in the region.

At entry, patients are asked to fill in the German versions of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA; McConnaughy, Prochaska, \& Velicer, 1983; German: Heidenreich, Hoyer \& Fecht; 2001) and the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ; Green, 1996; German: Maercker, 2002). At discharge, patients are asked to fill in the URICA.

The investigators expect that specific information on the association between stress and drinking will increase the patients' motivation to participate in further treatment.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Alcohol Dependence
* Regular admission to detoxification unit

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe withdrawal
* Severe cognitive impairment
* Severe comorbid psychiatric conditions (schizophrenia, suicidal crisis)

Primary outcomes:
measure: University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA)
timeFrame: Pre and Post (day 1, day 15 (average))
measure: Detoxification treatment completion
timeFrame: 15 days (average treatment duration)
measure: number of days in detoxification treatment
timeFrame: 15 days (average treatment duration)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: adverse events
timeFrame: between admission and discharge
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Reichenau
country: Germany
facility: Center for Psychiatry Reichenau
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Konstanz
name: Michael Odenwald, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: