Efficacy of Dual Focus Mutual Aid for Persons With Co-occurring Disorders

Western Michigan University (WMU)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Mental Disorders

Substance Abuse

Treatments

Behavioral: Double Trouble in Recovery

Behavioral: Treatment as usual

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

NIH

Identifiers

NCT01333280

DUALFOCUSAID

1R01DA023119-01A1 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to determine whether adding "dual focus" mutual aid groups to formal treatment for people dually diagnosed with substance abuse and mental illness is effective in improving treatment outcomes.

NO VOLUNTEERS ARE ACCEPTED. ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO CLIENTS OF THE PARTICIPATING TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

Full description

This study builds on two previous studies by the principal investigator, which found that participation in an established and growing "dual-focus" mutual aid model (Double Trouble in Recovery; DTR) by persons with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders was associated with drug/alcohol abstinence and improved psychiatric outcomes. However, these findings are limited as they are based on studies using an observational design with existing DTR groups and a pre-post design with a historical control. This new application seeks to confirm and significantly extend this research by conducting a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of DTR at multiple treatment sites.

The specific study aims are:

To conduct a multi-site RCT to determine the efficacy of "dual focus" 12-step mutual aid groups for persons with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. Substance-using patients who are admitted to psychiatric outpatient clinics will be randomly assigned within each clinic to (i) DTR group participation plus standard treatment, or (ii) standard treatment as usual (wait list for DTR). The primary outcome is drug/alcohol use. The secondary outcomes are psychiatric medication adherence; quality of life; treatment retention; and traditional 12 step group participation. Major assessments will occur at baseline and 6 months later.
To determine the therapeutic mechanisms mediating between DTR participation and behavioral outcomes. Hypothesized mediating variables will include both "common process" factors across treatments, e.g., coping, self-efficacy and social support; and factors relatively unique to mutual aid, e.g., mutual aid group processes, 12-step attitudes and spirituality.
To determine the personal, social/environmental and treatment-related variables which predict DTR affiliation.
To describe the development of DTR groups and the conditions needed to sustain them.

Federal substance abuse and mental health policy encourages the use of evidence-based interventions, yet rigorous evaluation data are scant for mutual aid groups. In particular, this research will lead to recommendations for improving the integration of formal treatment with mutual aid for persons with co-occurring disorders. Moreover, by conducting the proposed RCT, the study will substantially raise the standard by which mutual aid is evaluated.

Enrollment

352 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 65 years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

admission to one of the participating treatment programs
substance abuse/dependence
18-65 years of age

NO VOLUNTEERS ARE ACCEPTED. ENROLLMENT IS LIMITED TO CLIENTS OF THE THE PARTICIPATING TREATMENT PROGRAMS.

Exclusion criteria

Inability to conduct an interview in English or participate in English- language DTR groups
Appears intoxicated on drugs or alcohol
Carries a diagnosis of mental retardation
Deemed actively psychotic by the clinic's intake coordinator
Appears unable to understand and give informed consent.