Web-based CBT4CBT for Alcohol (CBT4CBT Etoh)

Yale University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Alcohol Abuse or Dependence

Treatments: Behavioral: Web-based CBT4CBT for alcohol plus TAU; Behavioral: Standard Treatment as Usual (TAU); Behavioral: Web-based CBT with minimal clinical contact

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT01615497

R21AA021405-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

1204010157

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators are conducting a randomized clinical trial of our new web-based version of the CBT4CBT (Computer Based Training for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) program specifically designed for alcohol to evaluate its effectiveness relative to standard outpatient counseling at the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit (SATU). The computer-based training program (CBT4CBT) focuses on teaching basic coping skills, presenting examples of effective use of coping skills in a number of realistic situations in video form, and providing opportunities for patients to practice and review new skills while receiving substance abuse treatment.

Full description

Ninety alcohol using individuals seeking treatment at the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit (SATU) of the Connecticut Mental Health Center will be randomized to (1) standard outpatient counseling at SATU (typically consisting of weekly group counseling), (2) standard outpatient counseling plus web-based CBT, or (3) web-based CBT4CBT with minimal clinical monitoring. Treatments will be delivered over an 8-week period with a six-month follow-up after termination of the study treatments. The primary outcome measures will be reduction in alcohol use (frequency of alcohol use by time, confirmed by urine toxicology screens and breathalyzers). Secondary outcomes will include treatment utilization and cost, several measures intended to detect whether web-based CBT4CBT retains key characteristics of traditional clinician-administered CBT (e.g., acquisition of coping skills, use of change strategies), participant characteristics which will be evaluated as potential moderators of outcome, as well as participant satisfaction and treatment credibility.

Enrollment: 68 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 70 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Are 18 years of age or older.
• Are applying for outpatient, non-agonist substance abuse treatment at SATU.
• Meet current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence.
• Are sufficiently stable for 8 weeks of outpatient treatment.
• Can commit to 8 weeks of treatment and are willing to be randomized to treatment
• Are willing to provide locator information for follow-up.
• Are fluent in English and have a 6th grader or higher reading level

Exclusion criteria

• Have an untreated bipolar or schizophrenic disorder.
• Who have a current legal case pending such that incarceration during 8-week protocol is likely.
• Are physically dependent on alcohol, opioids or benzodiazepines

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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68 participants in 3 patient groups

Standard Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Active Comparator group

Description:

Treatment that would normally be received at the clinic typically consisting of individual or group counseling sessions focusing on alcohol and substance abuse.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Treatment as Usual (TAU)

Web-based CBT4CBT for alcohol plus TAU

Experimental group

Description:

A computerized program that teaches skills for stopping drug and alcohol use by increasing coping skills such as how to understand patterns of drug use, coping with cravings, etc. plus standard treatment as usual.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Web-based CBT4CBT for alcohol plus TAU

Web-based CBT with minimal clinical contact

Active Comparator group

Description:

A computerized program that teaches skills for stopping drug and alcohol use by increasing coping skills such as how to understand patterns of drug and alcohol use, coping with cravings, etc. plus 10 minute check in with clinician.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Web-based CBT with minimal clinical contact