Evaluation of a Motion-Activated Refusal-Skills Training Video Game for Prevention of Substance Use Disorder Relapse

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Relapse; Marijuana Usage; Opioid Use
• Interventions: Behavioral: RecoveryWarrior 2.0

• Registration Number: NCT03957798
• Lead Sponsor: George Washington University

Brief Summary

The project proposes to continue the development of an intervention for relapse prevention in the form of a professional quality video game which rewards drug-rejecting physical motions and spoken refusal phrases. Phase I research findings showed that youth in recovery experienced increased low craving levels, strong levels of satisfaction, and interest in attending treatment sessions where the intervention is available - an important outcome since failure to attend treatment is highly correlated with relapse. In Phase II, the investigators propose to modify and expand the prototype based on customer feedback from treatment centers, counselors and patients. The investigators will test the effectiveness of the motion and voice-controlled game in a randomized controlled trial of youths in treatment for opioid use disorder who have access to the game for a month. The investigators will measure the effect of gameplay on successful completion of detoxification/inpatient treatment and rates of linkage to next level of outpatient treatment. The investigators will also measure the effect of gameplay compared to treatment as usual (TAU) during a subsequent episode of outpatient treatment (following inpatient), on rates of treatment attendance, treatment retention, urine drug test results, substance use self-report, treatment alliance, drug craving, and treatment satisfaction.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2016-02-05
• Primary Completion: 2016-06-21
• Study Completion: 2016-10-31
• Study First Submitted: 2019-04-16
• Status Verified: 2019-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-05-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-05-17
• Study First Posted: 2019-05-21
• Last Update Posted: 2019-05-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

• attending the MMTC inpatient program for primarily opioid or marijuana use disorder treatment
• ability to speak English

Exclusion Criteria

• presence of a comorbid psychiatric condition that would make participation unsafe (eg, acute suicidality or unstable psychosis)
• pregnancy (because of the physical exertion required to play the game)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention (Treatment as usual + game)	RecoveryWarrior 2.0	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in craving	baseline, discharge (up to 2 weeks from baseline), 4 week, 8 week	For cravings, the 5-item Penn Alcohol Craving Scale was included at baseline, discharge, and postdischarge follow-up surveys, but modified to apply to marijuana and opioid use. It assessed the intensity of a participant's cravings (0=none at all to 6=very strong; sum of a maximum total of 30 points).
Change in self-efficacy	baseline, discharge (up to 2 weeks from baseline), 4 week, 8 week	Self-efficacy for refusal of drugs was measured using the Marijuana Resistance Self-Efficacy scale at baseline, discharge, and follow-up surveys. It used a 4-item, 4-point scale (1=very easy to 4=very hard) that asked participants how easy or hard it would be to refuse the drug if offered and explain why they did not want it, why they wanted to avoid the situation in the first place, and why they wanted to leave the situation. It was adapted so that there was a similar version for opioid use. Participants were only asked about the primary drug for which they enrolled in treatment (ie, marijuana or opioids).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Refusal Skill	4 week	Refusal skills were measured by asking participants if they agreed that they would use the phrase "I'm Clean" to refuse drugs (1=not agree to 5=highly agree), if they had used the phrase "I'm Clean" since discharge to refuse drugs, and if the phrase "I'm Clean" still rings in their head (not at all, less than once per week, a few times a week, or more often).
Abstinence of drug use	Baseline, 4 week, 8 week	Participants were asked about the primary drug that they were in treatment for. Opioid and marijuana use at follow-up was ascertained by self-report of any use in the past 7 and 30 days.