Twelve Step Based Self-help Groups for Substance Related Disorders

NCT00708890 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SSHF_815357
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 140
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The Twelve Step groups are the most available and widespread self-help groups for patients with alcohol or drug related disorders. In a public health perspective, self-help groups (SHGs) may be considered as a supplement to professional treatment and provide aftercare soon as professional treatment has ended. There is a need to investigate if U.S. findings and procedures concerning referrals from the health services to Twelve Step Groups (TSGs) can be replicated and accommodated to a cultural setting which is unfamiliar with these groups. There is also a particular need in the Norwegian treatment system to develop alternative treatment strategies for patients undergoing detoxification to improve their chances of long-term recovery, due to deficient formal follow-up alternatives. We plan to carry out a RCT-study. One hundred and sixty patients entering a detoxification treatment center (Addiction Unit, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway) will be assigned to two different groups: One given standard information about TSGs (brief advice) and one given intensive referral (motivational sessions and contact with TSG volunteers). A follow up assessment is planned at 6 months to determine whether intensive referral results in more TSG attendance, and if this mediates less substance use and better functioning outcomes. This study introduces a new concept in the Norwegian health care system and relies on a systematic cooperation with user organizations (SHGs) and user volunteers. Thus the study focuses strongly on user resources.

Conditions

Substance Use Disorders

Keywords

Substance use disorders; Self-help groups; Twelve Step groups

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Self-help groups attendance and involvement during 6 months observation period.

  Six months after detox treatment

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• 1)Substance use outcomes measured by Europ-ASI 2) Quality of Life

  6 months after detox treatment

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Brief motivation to participate in TSG

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Will only get a standard information about TSG group (information about meeting etc.)

Interventions

Brief motivation to participate in TSG BEHAVIORAL

The intensive intervention will consist of a boost motivational session on follow-up alternatives and particularly on attending TSGs. Efforts will be made to connect the patients with TSG volunteers via the AA/NA contact telephone. The patients are encouraged to invite AA/NA contact persons to visit them on the ward. The patient will then have the possibility to be followed to a meeting after treatment. The patients in the intensive referral group will get a phone call four weeks after discharge. The focus of this call will be on continued motivation to attend TSGs.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Patients with alcohol and substance use disorders treated on a detox ward

You may not qualify if:

• Severe psychiatric comorbidity
• Patients on opioid replacement therapy
• Those who have appointment with other inpatient treatment at intake (and will be transferred to such treatment)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sorlandet Hospital HF: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sørlandet Sykehus

Kristiansand, VA, 4604, Norway

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Vederhus JK, Timko C, Kristensen O, Clausen T. The courage to change: patient perceptions of 12-Step fellowships. BMC Health Serv Res. 2011 Dec 15;11:339. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-11-339.

  PMID: 22171827 RESULT

• Vederhus JK, Timko C, Kristensen O, Hjemdahl B, Clausen T. Motivational intervention to enhance post-detoxification 12-Step group affiliation: a randomized controlled trial. Addiction. 2014 May;109(5):766-73. doi: 10.1111/add.12471. Epub 2014 Feb 16.

  PMID: 24400937 RESULT

Related Links

• The Norwegian Centre for Addiction Research web site

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER GOV
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 27, 2008
• First Posted: July 2, 2008
• Study Start: September 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2011
• Study Completion: February 1, 2011
• Last Updated: February 8, 2023

Record last verified: 2014-04

Locations

NO (1)