Effect of Psychoeducation on Motivation to Change in Traumatized Alcoholics

University of Konstanz

Status: Completed

Conditions: Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic

Treatments: Behavioral: Psychoeducation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01323738

UKonstanzMOdenwald2009-1

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Alcohol Dependence
• Regular admission to detoxification unit

Exclusion criteria

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Factorial Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment as Ususal

No Intervention group

Description:

Patients participate in the Treatment as Usual including a non-specific information group.

Psychoeducation

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention group

Treatment:

Behavioral: Psychoeducation