Brief Intervention for Drug Abusing Adolescents

University of Minnesota (UMN)

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Drug Abuse

Treatments: Behavioral: brief intervention (cognitive-behavioral therapy)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00350909

0308S51681

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this clinical trail is to evaluate the efficacy of a brief, cognitive-behavioral therapeutic intervention for adolescents reporting mild or moderate drug abuse (MMDA). This school-based initiative employs a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota researchers and the St. Paul Public Schools. This intervention aims to reduce post-treatment drug use behaviors and enhance drug-use resistant cognitions and problem-solving skills.

Full description

The purpose of this clinical trail is to evaluate the efficacy of a brief, cognitive-behavioral therapeutic intervention for adolescents reporting mild or moderate drug abuse (MMDA). This school-based initiative employs a collaborative effort between the University of Minnesota researchers and the St. Paul Public Schools. This intervention aims to reduce post-treatment drug use behaviors and enhance drug-use resistant cognitions and problem-solving skills.

Specifically, we propose a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral therapy on key process and outcome dimensions among school-based youth with mild-to-moderate drug abuse (MMDA). The experimental treatment is designated Brief Cognitive Behavioral Intervention (BCBI) given its theoretical foundation in stage of change theory used to coordinate modules on Rational-Emotive Therapy and Problem Solving Therapy. BCBI will be compared against a second experimental treatment that consists of BCBI and a single parent session (BCBI+P) and an assessment only condition (control). The importance of clarifying mechanisms in drug treatment research will be explored with respect to a limited number of treatment and individual factors that have emerged as promising mediating and moderating factors, such as cognitive and problem solving factors, parenting practices, and peer group influences.

Enrollment: 160 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 13 to 19 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. student at a local school
2. meets DSM-IV criteria for a substance abuse disorder for at least one drug
3. student and parent both agree to participate in the intervention study

Exclusion criteria

1. meets criteria for at least one DSM-IV substance dependence disorder
2. meets criteria for a psychotic disorder or a learning disability

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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160 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

One arm was a 2-session brief intervention with both sessions involving only the adolescent. Each session was a 60 minute individual session with the counselor.

Treatment:

Behavioral: brief intervention (cognitive-behavioral therapy)

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

The other arm was a 3-session brief intervention, with 2 sessions involving the adolescent and one session with the parent. Each of these individual sessions were 60 minutes.

Treatment:

Behavioral: brief intervention (cognitive-behavioral therapy)