The Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder

St Patrick's Hospital, Ireland

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder

Treatments: Other: U Control Drink Smartphone Application; Other: Control group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03396887

UCD - Protocol 19/15

Details and patient eligibility

About

Alcohol dependence poses a major problem for Irish and UK society, placing a huge burden on the health system. It is difficult to treat and relapse is common. There is an urgent need to develop novel treatment methods. One growing area of intervention is the use of mobile phone technology to develop personalised, patient-centred treatments. These can be used in outpatient settings, allowing patients to manage their own illness and take control of their recovery. In this study the investigators will investigate how a smartphone application, UControlDrink, can help alcoholics stay abstinent from alcohol. The application consists of a number of features known to aid recovery such as supportive messages and online therapy.

Full description

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common and difficult disorder to treat. Only a fraction of sufferers seek treatment and the rate of relapse is high. There is therefore an urgent need for improved methods of promoting long term abstinence and recovery in AUD. This study will explore the effectiveness of a smartphone application, UControlDrink, in aiding recovery from AUD in patients who have been discharged from an inpatient alcohol treatment programme. The application comprises five recovery focused features:

supportive messages, Computerised-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a drinking log, activities and trigger avoidance log, craving management and gamification. Patients will use the application for 3 months. A control group of patients will also be followed over the same time period. Cumulative abstinence duration as well as changes in questionnaire measures to baseline, time to first drink, proportion of patients continuously abstinent from alcohol, levels of activity within the app and patient satisfaction with their overall treatment will be measured at 3 months. If successful, this application may offer a unique, patient-centred, technology-driven, cost effective method of improving outcomes in AUD.

Enrollment: 50 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients will fulfil the criteria for an alcohol use disorder according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Axis I Disorders
2. Patients must complete an alcohol treatment programme at St. Patrick's University Hospital.
3. Primary addiction must be alcohol in poly-substance abusers.
4. Aged over 18 years of age and capable of providing written, informed consent.
5. Mini Mental State Examination (MSSE) score of ≥25.
6. Patients must have an iphone or Android smartphone and are familiar with using smartphone applications.

Exclusion criteria

1. Patients whose primary substance of abuse is not alcohol, although may meet the criteria for alcohol dependency/abuse.
2. Patients who do not have an iPhone or Android smartphone.
3. Age <18years or >70years.
4. Psychotic disorder
5. Patients who do not fully complete an inpatient treatment programme before discharge.
6. History of alcohol use disorder but not current.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Smartphone Application Users

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental group will receive the smartphone intervention along with treatment as usual for 3-months. The smartphone application (UControlDrink) includes twice daily text message recovery support, relapse prevention cognitive behavioural therapy, 12 sessions in total, drinking and recovery activity logs where participants detail their abstinence, drinking and recovery activity engagement on a daily basis. Craving intervention in the form of a "calm button" to deal with cravings and prevent relapse and gamification, a system of encouraging positive behaviour with the awarding of "points" to achieve various "status" levels, is used to increase adherence and compliance with treatment recommendations.

Treatment:

Other: U Control Drink Smartphone Application

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group will also receive treatment as usual, i.e. any follow-up after-care that they chose to participate in and regular AA/Lifering meetings.

Treatment:

Other: Control group