The Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
1 other identifier
interventional
50
1 country
1
Brief Summary
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.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable
Started May 2017
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
May 1, 2017
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 12, 2017
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
January 11, 2018
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 31, 2018
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
September 30, 2018
CompletedJanuary 11, 2018
November 1, 2017
1.2 years
May 12, 2017
January 9, 2018
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (3)
Number of drinking days
The number of drinking days will be assessed using the Time Line to Follow-Back scale (TLFB).The Alcohol TLFB is a descriptive questionnaire, using a calendar, participants will retrospectively record the number of days they drank over the previous 90 days. Drinking days will be calculated by summing the total number of days when alcohol was consumed in the previous 90 days.
3 months
App activity score
Activity score on the app
3 months
Units of alcohol consumed per drinking day
The Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) will be used to record the average number of units of alcohol consumed on drinking days.
3 months
Secondary Outcomes (6)
Time to first drink
3 months
Changes in the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scores from baseline
3 months
Changes in the Alcohol Abstinence Self-Efficacy Scale scores from baseline
3 months
Changes in the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale scores from baseline
3 months
Changes in the Beck Depression Inventory scores from baseline
3 months
- +1 more secondary outcomes
Study Arms (2)
Smartphone Application Users
EXPERIMENTALThe 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.
Control Group
ACTIVE COMPARATORThe 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.
Interventions
The smartphone application comprises five recovery focused features: supportive messages, Computerised-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, a drinking log, craving management and gamification.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Patients will fulfil the criteria for an alcohol use disorder according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Axis I Disorders
- Patients must complete an alcohol treatment programme at St. Patrick's University Hospital.
- Primary addiction must be alcohol in poly-substance abusers.
- Aged over 18 years of age and capable of providing written, informed consent.
- Mini Mental State Examination (MSSE) score of ≥25.
- Patients must have an iphone or Android smartphone and are familiar with using smartphone applications.
You may not qualify if:
- Patients whose primary substance of abuse is not alcohol, although may meet the criteria for alcohol dependency/abuse.
- Patients who do not have an iPhone or Android smartphone.
- Age \<18years or \>70years.
- Psychotic disorder
- Patients who do not fully complete an inpatient treatment programme before discharge.
- History of alcohol use disorder but not current.
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
St. Patrick's University Hospital
Dublin, Dublin 8, Ireland
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Conor Farren, PhD,MRCPsych
St. Patrick's University Hospital
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- SUPPORTIVE CARE
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Consultant Psychiatrist
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 12, 2017
First Posted
January 11, 2018
Study Start
May 1, 2017
Primary Completion
July 31, 2018
Study Completion
September 30, 2018
Last Updated
January 11, 2018
Record last verified: 2017-11
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share