NCT01410110

Brief Summary

The initial phase of substance abuse treatment is a vulnerable period for relapse. Cognitive impairments are common during this phase and may reduce the ability to benefit from other forms of substance abuse and rehabilitation services. The study compares a rehabilitation program that combines work therapy with computer-based cognitive training of attention, memory and executive functions to work therapy alone in a 3 months outpatient substance abuse program. It is hypothesized that cognitive training will increase days of sobriety during the active intervention and better substance abuse outcomes at 6 month follow-up.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
48

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for phase_2

Timeline
Completed

Started Dec 2010

Typical duration for phase_2

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 1, 2010

Completed
8 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

August 2, 2011

Completed
2 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

August 4, 2011

Completed
3.3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

December 1, 2014

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 1, 2014

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Results Posted

Study results publicly available

January 19, 2015

Completed
Last Updated

January 19, 2015

Status Verified

December 1, 2014

Enrollment Period

4 years

First QC Date

August 2, 2011

Results QC Date

December 15, 2014

Last Update Submit

January 14, 2015

Conditions

Keywords

Substance AbuseSubstance DependenceCognitive Impairment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

  • Days of Sobriety in First 90 Days

    Abstinence will be determined by toxicology screening, breathalyzer and substance abuse calendar weekly during 3 months of active intervention. Days of sobriety has a range of 0 to 90 with higher being a better outcome.

    3 months

  • Days of Use in Prior 30 Days

    Days of Use based on Time-Line Follow-back, Toxicology Screen, Breathalyzer, and Chart Review. The range at 6 month follow-up is 0 to 30 days of use with more days being a worse outcome.

    30 Days Prior to 6 month follow-up

  • Weeks of Sobriety

    0 to 26 Weeks. Higher number of Weeks is better.

    26 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Attention Index

    Baseline, 3 month and 6 month follow-up

  • Processing Speed Index

    Baseline, 3 Months, 6 Months

  • Verbal and Visual Learning and Memory

    Baseline, 3 Months, 6 Months

  • Verbal and Visual Working Memory

    Baseline, 3 Month, 6 Months

  • Executive Function

    Baseline, 3 Months, 6 Months

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Cognitive Training + Work Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Cognitive Training using auditory and visual Positscience software 5 hours/per week for 13 weeks. Work Therapy for 15 hours per week at half minimum wage doing entry level duties at medical center job sites, supervised by regular medical center staff.

Behavioral: Cognitive Training + Work Therapy

Work Therapy Only

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Same work therapy but for 20 hours per week.

Behavioral: Work Therapy

Interventions

Cognitive training for 5 hours per week for 13 weeks and 15 hours of work therapy

Cognitive Training + Work Therapy
Work TherapyBEHAVIORAL

20 hours per week of work therapy

Work Therapy Only

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • In the initial phase of treatment for substance abuse or dependence at VACHS.
  • Fluency in English 6th grade or higher reading level DSM-IV criteria for any current drug use disorder
  • Willingness to attend follow-up assessments at 13 and 26 weeks
  • Willingness to submit to observed urine toxicology and breathalyzer screenings

You may not qualify if:

  • Untreated psychotic disorder
  • Current prescribed treatment of opioids or benzodiazepines
  • Having a legal case that may lead to incarceration during study period
  • Residential plans that would interfere with participation
  • Developmental disability or medical illness that may significantly compromise cognition or prevent work activity

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

West Haven, Connecticut, 06516, United States

Location

Related Publications (3)

  • Bell MD, Laws HB, Petrakis IB. A randomized controlled trial of cognitive remediation and work therapy in the early phase of substance use disorder recovery for older veterans: Neurocognitive and substance use outcomes. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 2017 Mar;40(1):94-102. doi: 10.1037/prj0000211. Epub 2016 Oct 10.

  • Bell MD, Vissicchio NA, Weinstein AJ. Cognitive Training and Work Therapy for the Treatment of Verbal Learning and Memory Deficits in Veterans With Alcohol Use Disorders. J Dual Diagn. 2016;12(1):83-9. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2016.1145779.

  • Bell MD, Vissicchio NA, Weinstein AJ. Visual and verbal learning deficits in Veterans with alcohol and substance use disorders. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Feb 1;159:61-5. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.11.007. Epub 2015 Dec 2.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related DisordersCognitive Dysfunction

Interventions

Cognitive Training

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced DisordersMental DisordersCognition DisordersNeurocognitive Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurological RehabilitationRehabilitationAftercareContinuity of Patient CarePatient CareTherapeuticsHealth ServicesHealth Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Limitations and Caveats

Use of WT limited recruitment to only those willing to participate in a work program for 13 weeks, reducing generalizability. WT may have powerful effects on sobriety that obscured benefits of CRT. As a pilot, this study was not adequately powered.

Results Point of Contact

Title
Morris Bell, Ph.D.
Organization
Yale University School of Medicine

Study Officials

  • Morris D Bell, Ph.D.

    Yale University School of Medicine and VACHS

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

PI is Sponsor Employee
No
Restrictive Agreement
No

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
phase 2
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

August 2, 2011

First Posted

August 4, 2011

Study Start

December 1, 2010

Primary Completion

December 1, 2014

Study Completion

December 1, 2014

Last Updated

January 19, 2015

Results First Posted

January 19, 2015

Record last verified: 2014-12

Locations