Effect of Psychoeducation on Motivation to Change in Traumatized Alcoholics

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Alcoholic Intoxication, Chronic
• Interventions: Behavioral: Psychoeducation

• Registration Number: NCT01323738
• Lead Sponsor: University of Konstanz

Brief Summary

Many people suffering from alcohol dependence have a history of exposure to stressful life situations, such as childhood physical or emotional misuse. Often, there's a functional relationship between drinking and emotional problems related to past traumatic experiences, i.e. drinking to forget. However, alcohol treatment often does not include interventions to support patients to cope better with past life experiences. On the other hand, most alcoholics are poorly motivated to participate in long-term rehabilitative treatments after detoxification. In the proposed study, the investigators will study the effects of a brief psycho-educational group intervention during detoxification treatment on motivation to change and the willingness to accept further treatment.

The investigators will use a group comparison design (intervention versus "TAS" control group). In month 1, patients take part in Treatment as Usual (TAS), including a unspecific information group. In month 2, the information group is replaced by the psychoeducational group (intervention). Ward staff selects patients for the groups, irrespective of intervention or TAS. Selection criteria are: absence of severe withdrawal and cognitive impairment. Absence of severe co-morbid psychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia or suicidal crisis). The group sessions will take place in groups of up to 15 patients and will include 4 structured sessions (45 min each). Main content if the intervention group is to highlight and discuss the association between stress, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and drinking. Patients will also be informed about the different treatment options available in the region.

At entry, patients are asked to fill in the German versions of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA; McConnaughy, Prochaska, \& Velicer, 1983; German: Heidenreich, Hoyer \& Fecht; 2001) and the Trauma History Questionnaire (THQ; Green, 1996; German: Maercker, 2002). At discharge, patients are asked to fill in the URICA.

The investigators expect that specific information on the association between stress and drinking will increase the patients' motivation to participate in further treatment.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-12-22
• Study Start: 2010-01
• Primary Completion: 2010-03
• Study Completion: 2010-03
• Status Verified: 2011-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2011-03-25
• Study First Posted: 2011-03-28
• Last Update Submitted: 2011-03-30
• Last Update Posted: 2011-03-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• Alcohol Dependence
• Regular admission to detoxification unit

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe withdrawal
• Severe cognitive impairment
• Severe comorbid psychiatric conditions (schizophrenia, suicidal crisis)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Psychoeducation	Psychoeducation	Intervention group

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Detoxification treatment completion	15 days (average treatment duration)	It was evaluated how many subjects in both treatment arms and among traumatized and non-traumatized in each arm ended the detoxification treatment prematurely, i.e. discharge against medical advice or disciplinary discharge.
number of days in detoxification treatment	15 days (average treatment duration)	The number of days in detoxification treatment is a simple count of days of treatment between day of detoxification treatment entry and day of discharge
University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA)	Pre and Post (day 1, day 15 (average))	Pre-assessment is at entry in in-patient alcohol detoxification treatment, post-assessment is at day of discharge. On average, the two measurements are 15 days apart.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
adverse events	between admission and discharge	Adverse events were assessed during the detoxification treatment for patients taking part in the information group (TAU) or TARGET group (intervention), i.e. suicide attempts, psychiatric decompensation, aggressive behaviors, relapse of alcohol use. These events were recorded by the social worker who participated routinely in the three daily team meetings during which the situation of each patient was briefly discussed.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Center for Psychiatry Reichenau; 🇩🇪 Reichenau, Germany