Computer-Based Training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT4CBT)

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Substance-Related Disorders

Treatments: Behavioral: Computer Based Treatment

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT01406899

JC0008

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this behavioral trial 80 substance abusing individuals will be randomly assigned to either treatment as usual in the substance abuse clinic of the Newington, CT VA hospital OR treatment as usual plus 8 hours of access to the 'CBT for CBT' computer program over a period of 8 weeks. Primary outcomes will be retention in treatment and reduction in substance use (percent days abstinent, confirmed by urine toxicology screens). The patients' ability to demonstrate coping skills through a computerized role-play evaluation will be a secondary outcome. A six-month follow-up will assess durability and/or delayed emergence of effects.

Full description

This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of adding a computer based training program in Cognitive Behavior Therapy ("CBT4CBT") for the treatment of addictions in a VA substance abuse outpatient clinic. Key secondary aims are to assess the impact of adding CBT4CBT to standard care on treatment attendance, engagement, retention, and to investigate if certain process measures are associated with substance use outcomes. Approximately 80 patients enrolled in the Newington Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) will be randomly assigned to either (A) treatment as usual, or (B) treatment as usual plus exposure to the CBT4CBT program.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18 years and older
• Recent (within 3 months) substance use
• meet current DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV) criteria for substance use disorder
• fluent in English or at least a 6th grade reading level
• can commit to at least 8 weeks of treatment and willing to be randomized to treatment

Exclusion criteria

• Unstable housing situation
• Likelihood of going to prison during the intervention portion of study
• Recent opiate or benzodiazepine prescription

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment as Usual

No Intervention group

Description:

Standard treatment as usual (TAU) in the VA Connecticut Healthcare System substance abuse clinic consisting of individual and group therapy sessions and regular urine monitoring.

Computer-based treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Standard treatment as usual (TAU) plus coping skills computer program. In addition to the individual and group therapy sessions (TAU), individuals will work with a computerized program that teaches skills for stopping substance use and increasing coping skills twice weekly for 8 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Computer Based Treatment