Efficacy Trial of Warrior Check-Up

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Alcohol Dependence; Alcohol Abuse; Substance Abuse; Substance Dependence
• Interventions: Behavioral: Motivational Enhancement Therapy; Behavioral: Education

• Registration Number: NCT01128140
• Lead Sponsor: University of Washington

Brief Summary

This study will develop and test a brief telephone-delivered motivational enhancement intervention for substance abusing military personnel who are not currently in treatment. The hypotheses being tested are that this intervention will prompt a willingness to participate voluntarily in a self-appraisal of substance abuse behavior and consequences, self-initiated change or enrollment in a treatment or self-help program, and cessation of abuse of alcohol or other drugs.

Detailed Description

The health and well-being of military personnel, and consequently the capacity for optimal functioning of military units, are compromised by the abuse of alcohol and/or other drugs. Rates of heavy drinking are higher among military personnel than in the general population and are even higher among recently deployed personnel.

While counseling can be effective, most substance abusers do not tend to voluntarily seek treatment. Moreover, military personnel encounter more real and perceived barriers to seeking treatment.

The substance abuse field is increasingly focusing on developing interventions for those at early stages of readiness to change, i.e., those contemplating but not yet committed to change. A brief, telephone-delivered motivational enhancement intervention (MET) called a "check-up," has shown promise in promoting self-initiated behavior change as well as voluntary treatment entry, enhanced retention, and more successful outcomes for substance abuse.

Adapting the "check-up" for application with military personnel is warranted for three key reasons: (1) it has the potential of overcoming barriers to treatment-seeking, i.e., stigma and apprehension of a negative impact on one's military career; (2) it has the potential of attracting voluntary participation; and (3) protocols for disseminating this low cost intervention for use with deployed military can readily be developed and evaluated.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2010-05-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-05-20
• Study First Posted: 2010-05-21
• Study Start: 2010-10
• Primary Completion: 2014-09
• Study Completion: 2014-09
• Status Verified: 2015-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-05-26
• Last Update Posted: 2015-05-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 242

Inclusion Criteria

1. current abuse or dependence on one or more substances
2. not currently enrolled in a counseling program focusing on substance abuse
3. currently serving in the Army or other branch of the military.

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Exclusion Criteria

1. non-fluency in English
2. evidence of psychosis

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Motivational Enhancement Therapy	Motivational Enhancement Therapy	-
Education	Education	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Treatment Seeking and Preparation Behaviors Questionnaire	3 months	Assesses treatment-seeking attitudes, intentions, and behaviors.
Form 90D	3 months	Structured interview that uses a timeline follow-back procedure to elicit detailed daily information on the use of alcohol and other drugs.
Inventory of Drug Use Consequences	3 months	A 50-item inventory of consequences related to alcohol and drug use.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale	3 months	19-item questionnaire that assesses readiness to make changes in alcohol or drug use behaviors.
Drinking Norms Rating Form	3 months	Participant estimates of prevalence and frequency/volume of alcohol/drug consumption by the average person and the average person in the military.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Washington Innovative Programs Research Group; 🇺🇸 Seattle, Washington, United States