Clinical Trial: Effect of Psychoeducation on Motivation to Change in Traumatized Alcoholics

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Effect of Psychoeducation on Motivation to Change in Traumatized Alcoholics

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:

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: University of Konstanz

Current Primary Outcome:

  • University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) [ Time Frame: 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.
  • Detoxification treatment completion [ Time Frame: 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 [ Time Frame: 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


Original Primary Outcome: University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) [ Time Frame: 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.


Current Secondary Outcome: adverse events [ Time Frame: 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.


Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: University of Konstanz

Dates:
Date Received: December 22, 2009
Date Started: January 2010
Date Completion:
Last Updated: March 30, 2011
Last Verified: March 2011