Internet-Based Relapse Prevention vs Face to Face Therapy at an Employee Assistance Program (FoBeMA)

Karolinska Institute

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol Addiction

Treatments: Behavioral: Face-to-face therapy; Behavioral: eChange

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02014779

2013/1391-31/5

Details and patient eligibility

About

Objectives: This study will evaluate the efficacy of internet-based relapse prevention with therapist support, as compared to face-to-face therapy at an employee assistance program. The design is a two-armed randomized controlled design, and outcomes are measured in terms of changes in problematic alcohol use, as well as depression and quality of life.

Method: Participants with problematic alcohol use who, after an initial evaluation consisting of five face-to-face sessions with a licensed psychologist where alcohol and collateral problems are extensively assessed, are recommended treatment for problematic alcohol use. Consenting participants will be randomized into one of two groups: 1. Internet delivered relapse prevention with therapist support or 2. Face-to-face therapy. Outcomes on alcohol use, depression and quality of life as well as information on user satisfaction will be gathered post treatment. Follow up will be at 3, 6 and 12 months after completion.

Our hypothesis is that the internet-based program with therapist support and the face-to-face therapy will be equally effective in reducing alcohol use (non-inferiority).

Enrollment: 1 patient

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Problematic alcohol use and having been recommended psychotherapy by the assessing psychologist.

Exclusion criteria

Inadequate Swedish language skills No Internet access Reading and/or writing difficulties Major depression Current suicidal thoughts and/or plans Primary problematic drug use PTSD-related problems Psychosis Cognitive disability

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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1 participants in 2 patient groups

eChange web-based relapse prevention

Experimental group

Description:

A relapse intervention program consisting of 14 modules. Patients will have access to therapist support through an internal secure messaging system.

Treatment:

Behavioral: eChange

Face-to-face therapy

Active Comparator group

Description:

Face-to-face psychotherapy, consisting of 20 sessions. The content will be vary for different therapists, but all have an evidence-based approach to therapy

Treatment:

Behavioral: Face-to-face therapy