Distress Tolerance Treatment for Substance Users

University of South Florida

Status and phase: Unknown; Phase 2

Conditions: Substance Dependence

Treatments: Behavioral: SIDI; Behavioral: SC

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01741415

R01DA032582

Details and patient eligibility

About

Despite recent advances in substance abuse interventions, a large percentage of clients entering residential treatment for substance use will drop out of treatment prematurely, and of the remaining, many will relapse soon after treatment completion. Previous research indicates that an individual's ability to withstand psychological distress is a key factor necessary to maintain drug and alcohol abstinence and to remain in substance use treatment without absconding. In previous work, Dr. Bornovalova developed a specific distress tolerance treatment called Skills for Improving Distress Intolerance (SIDI). This intervention features skills training in behavioral and acceptance strategies and intentional clinical exposure to emotional distress. SIDI was developed and piloted with a sample of urban drug users seeking treatment in a residential facility. Individuals receiving SIDI exhibited greater improvement in distress tolerance than those in two comparison groups (receiving treatment-as-usual and supportive counseling).

Current study. The investigators received NIDA funding to conduct a randomized clinical trial with 325 clients entering a residential substance use treatment facility. Study participants will be randomized into two treatment groups: (1) those receiving SIDI and (2) those receiving Supportive Counseling (SC). Participants will receive 10 treatment sessions over a period of 4 months. Then, the investigators will follow clients for one year to examine treatment retention and abstinence.

Enrollment: 325 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 18-65 years of age
• Not evidencing severe cognitive deficits
• Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• <18 years of age or > 65 years of age
• Not evidencing severe cognitive deficits (site designation of 'not competent to stand trial')
• Unable to give informed consent

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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325 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

SIDI

Experimental group

Description:

Skills for Improving Distress Intolerance treatment protocol: individual, manualized treatment aimed at improving distress intolerance

Treatment:

Behavioral: SIDI

SC

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

supportive counseling; psychological placebo/talk therapy - aimed at controlling for non-specific therapeutic factors

Treatment:

Behavioral: SC