Evaluation of a Brief Surf the Urge Intervention

NCT02771886 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SUBMI-2015
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a brief "Surf the Urge" intervention to reduce adolescent and young adult (i.e., 14 to 24 years old) urge-related behaviors. These behaviors will include, but not be limited to, substance use, deliberate self-harm, aggressive behavior, pulling out hair, and loosing control when eating.The intervention will utilize mindfulness skills (i.e., awareness, acceptance, nonjudgment) to assist in reducing these risky behaviors.

Conditions

Substance Use; Deliberate Self-harm; Trichotillomania; Aggression; Stealing; Eating Pathology; Gambling

Keywords

mindfulness; urges; adolescents; risk behaviors; therapy intervention

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Change of mindfulness skills from baseline at 6 weeks

  Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. This self-report analysis of trait mindfulness consists of 39 items based on a 5-point Likert scales, ranging from 1 (Never or Very Rarely True) to 5 (Very Often or Always True). Questions assess five factors of mindfulness, including observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experiences, and non-reactivity to inner experiences.

  week 1 of study duration; week 6 of study duration

• Change of urge feelings from baseline at 6 weeks

  The Urge for Urge-Related Behavior Questionnaire (UURBQ) will assess urges for urge-related behavior. Modifying two widely used valid and reliable measures will create this measure. These measures include the extensively utilized Alcohol Urge Questionnaire (AUQ) and Cocaine Craving Questionnaire (CCQ).The UURBQ will leave "a drink" and "cocaine/coke" blank. This will allow me to fill in the blank with the necessary urge-related behavior (e.g., alcohol, illicit substance, cutting) for each participant assessed. There will be 8 items included within this measure. A slight modification of this measure's response scale will occur. Rather than a check mark along a line with a 0 (Strongly Agree) to 100 (Strongly Disagree) based on the AUQ and CCQ, responses will be based on a 7-point Likert Scales ranging from 0 (Strongly Agree) to 7 (Strongly Disagree). This measure will assess urges for numerous urge-related behaviors.

  each week of the study's duration or once a week for 6 weeks

• Change in urge-related behavior engagement from baseline at 6 weeks

  The Urge-Related Behavior Engagement Questionnaire measure was developed by modifying similar approaches utilized in previous research assessing whether mindfulness interventions reduced an urge-related behavior (e.g., smoking cessation). Participants will report, "How many times have you engaged in \[urge-related behavior\] during the past week?" I will fill in the blank (i.e., \[urge-related behavior\]) with the participant's unique urge-related behavior (e.g., alcohol use, illicit drug use, deliberate self-harm) disclosed during the consent procedure. This will ensure that each participant is asked the same question about his or her unique urge-related behavior. Responses will be based on a 6-point Likert scale. The response options will include, 0) not at all, 1) one to two times, 2) three to four times, 3) once per day for all 7 days, 4) more than once per day, but not for all 7 days, 5) more than once per day, on all 7 days.

  each week of the study's duration or once a week for 6 weeks

• Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8

  This measure consists of 8 items based on a 4-point Likert scales. Each item has a different range 4-point Likert scale response. For example, ranging from 1 (Poor) to 4 (Excellent) or 1(No, Definitely) to 4 (Yes, Definitely).

  week 6 of study duration

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Demographics

  week 1 of study duration

• The Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire-Brief Form

  week 1 of study duration

• Change in mental health symptoms from baseline at 6 weeks

  each week of study's duration or once a week for 6 weeks

Other Outcomes (3)

• North American Reading Test

  week 1 of study duration

• Change in risk taking perceptions from baseline at 6 weeks

  week 1 of study duration; week 6 of study duration

• Change in impulsivity from baseline to 6 weeks

  week 1 of study duration; week 6 of study duration

Study Arms (2)

2-week intervention group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The "Surf the Urge" intervention will be provided to the participant during his or her 2nd week in the study. The duration of the study will be 6 weeks.

Behavioral: Surf the Urge

4-week intervention group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The "Surf the Urge" intervention will be provided to the participant during his or her 4th week in the study. The duration of the study will be 6 weeks.

Behavioral: Surf the Urge

Interventions

Surf the Urge BEHAVIORAL

The intervention teaches clients to be aware of and accept their feelings, thoughts, and sensations in a non-judgmental manner. Clients learn to remain present within the moment, become aware of their urges, and focus on accepting thoughts and feelings rather than suppressing or changing them. It utilizes visual imagery to assist clients in utilizing more acceptance skills; the client imagines his urges as waves within the ocean and then imagines surfing the waves. Some interventionists also provide psychoeducation. Clients learn that urges will not last forever; clients are also taught information about reinforcing urges. The interventionist explains that if clients do not reinforce urges (e.g., do not smoke when an urge to smoke arises) they will eventual subside; however, reinforcing urges (smoke when an urge to smoke arises) will produce stronger urges. Emphasis is placed on the belief that clients have the choice to refrain from engaging in urge-related behaviors.

Also known as: Surfing the Urge

2-week intervention group; 4-week intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 14 Years - 24 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Between ages 14 and 24 years old
• Endorses engaging in an urge-related behavior, or experiencing urges for an urge-related behavior, within the past week
• Currently receiving treatment (or seeking services) at a university mental health clinic at University of Nevada, Las Vegas OR enrolled in a course requiring research participation at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

You may not qualify if:

• Younger than 14
• Older than 24
• Does not endorse experiencing urge, or conducting urge-related behavior engagement, during the past week

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kimberly N Schubert: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Nevada Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, 455030, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders; Self-Injurious Behavior; Trichotillomania; Aggression; Gambling; Risk-Taking

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Anxiety Disorders; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders; Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia; Social Behavior

Study Officials

• Stephen Benning, PhD

  University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Doctoral Practicum Student

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2015
• First Posted: May 13, 2016
• Study Start: February 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2017
• Study Completion: April 1, 2017
• Last Updated: April 4, 2017

Record last verified: 2017-04

Locations

US (1)