Telemedicine for Alcoholism

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Deborah Manderachia, LMSW

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan

Disqualifiers: Non-English, Recent AUD therapy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 3 months

300 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on telemedicine programs for managing alcohol use.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Telemedicine for Alcoholism?

Research shows that telemedicine, including video calls and phone support, is as effective as in-person care for treating alcohol use disorders, making it a good option for people in remote areas. Additionally, web-based programs can help prevent relapses by providing accessible and cost-effective therapy. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is telemedicine for alcoholism safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for telemedicine-based alcohol treatments, but it suggests that telemedicine is a feasible and potentially effective way to deliver treatment for alcohol use disorder. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How is the TeleTx treatment for alcoholism different from other treatments?

The TeleTx treatment for alcoholism is unique because it uses telemedicine technology, such as videoconferencing, to deliver therapy remotely, making it accessible to people in rural or underserved areas who might not have easy access to traditional in-person treatment. ^{1 2 6 8 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a new online program to help people manage their health and alcohol use. Participants will discuss what's important to them, set goals, and learn new skills. The aim is to find better ways to deliver useful health information.

Research Team

Erin Bonar

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan

Allison Lin, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Michigan

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with alcohol use disorder who drink on average three or more days per week, have access to a device with video capabilities or a phone, and can understand English. It's not suitable for those who've had recent AUD therapy, are at risk of complicated withdrawal, or have injected drugs in the past year.

Inclusion Criteria

An average of 3 or more drinking days per week for the past 30 days

Have regular access to a device with video capabilities or a phone to use for study related calls

Current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5 alcohol use disorder (AUD) based on alcohol symptom checklist

Exclusion Criteria

Past-year drug injection

At elevated risk for complicated alcohol withdrawal

Inability to speak or understand English

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are randomized to either the TeleTx intervention or Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) group, with sessions focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and psychoeducation.

3 months

Remote sessions via Zoom, Facetime, or Phone

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in alcohol use and quality of life, with follow-up visits up to 12 months from baseline.

12 months

Remote follow-up visits

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Enhanced Usual Care (EUC)
• TeleTx intervention

Trial Overview The study compares two programs: TeleTx intervention delivered via telehealth platforms like Zoom and Enhanced Usual Care (EUC). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of these groups and followed up for up to 12 months to see which program better helps manage health behaviors related to alcohol use.

Participant Groups

Group I: TeleTx intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The evidence-based manualized psychosocial program is via telehealth and uses adaptations of cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing.

Group II: Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) Active Control 1 Intervention

EUC will include brief psychoeducation about AUD and resources for treatment.

TeleTx intervention is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Telehealth intervention for:

• Alcohol use disorder treatment

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,891

Recruited

6,458,000+

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Collaborator

Trials

865

Recruited

1,091,000+

Findings from Research

Telemedicine, specifically through videoconferencing, is being used to effectively deliver motivational enhancement therapy to at-risk alcohol users in rural areas, where access to treatment is often limited.

This approach not only addresses the lack of evidence-based substance abuse treatment in rural communities but also tailors interventions to the specific needs of at-risk groups, enhancing the potential for positive outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telemedicine-based alcohol services for rural offenders. Staton-Tindall, M., Wahler, E., Webster, JM., et al.[2021]

A study involving 262 participants with alcohol use disorder found that remote continuing care via telephone or smartphone significantly reduced heavy drinking days compared to traditional intensive outpatient programs (IOP) over 12 months.

Both telephone monitoring and smartphone support were effective, but combining the two did not provide additional benefits, and the positive effects did not last beyond the treatment period.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and comparative effectiveness of telephone and smartphone remote continuing care interventions for alcohol use disorder: a randomized controlled trial. McKay, JR., Gustafson, DH., Ivey, M., et al.[2023]

A study involving 360 patients with substance use disorders found that both telehealth and in-person treatment led to improvements in substance use, as measured by the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (DUDIT-C) scores.

There was no significant difference in treatment outcomes between telehealth and in-person care, indicating that telehealth is an effective alternative for treating substance use disorders in rural outpatient settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Change in Drug Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (DUDIT-C) with Telehealth Treatment Compared to in-Person Treatment. Neufeld, J., Ullrich, F., Merchant, KAS., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 57 participants in a therapist-guided internet intervention for alcohol use disorders, the most common client behaviors in messages to therapists were building a therapeutic alliance and identifying patterns of problem behaviors, which accounted for 26.6% and 22.8% of total behaviors, respectively.

Although these client behaviors did not predict module completion or drinking outcomes, they provide valuable insights for therapists and treatment developers to enhance the understanding of therapeutic processes in online interventions for alcohol use disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring client messages in a therapist-guided internet intervention for alcohol use disorders - A content analysis. Kraepelien, M., Hadjistavropoulos, HD., Berman, AH., et al.[2022]

This study will compare the effectiveness of a web-based relapse prevention therapy (e-RPT) to traditional face-to-face therapy (RPT) for adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD), involving 60 participants over 10 sessions.

The research aims to demonstrate that e-RPT can reduce relapse rates and improve quality of life, self-efficacy, and resilience, while also being more accessible and cost-effective than traditional therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing and Implementing a Web-Based Relapse Prevention Psychotherapy Program for Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. Eadie, J., Gutierrez, G., Moghimi, E., et al.[2023]

Telemedicine has been shown to effectively reduce alcohol consumption among individuals with alcohol use disorder, based on a systematic review of 22 articles.

In addition to reducing alcohol intake, telemedicine improved patient accessibility to healthcare services, increased patient satisfaction, and may lower healthcare costs, indicating its potential as a valuable tool in managing alcohol-related disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measures of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Quality of Telemedicine in the Management of Alcohol Abuse, Addiction, and Rehabilitation: Systematic Review. Kruse, CS., Lee, K., Watson, JB., et al.[2020]

A 12-month online group treatment program for gambling disorders, developed during the COVID pandemic, showed that all four participants no longer met the criteria for Gambling Disorder after treatment and maintained abstinence for 12 months.

This study suggests that online group therapy can be an effective and acceptable method for treating gambling disorders, especially for individuals who prefer telehealth options, indicating a need for further research with larger randomized controlled trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Case Study Demonstration of the Potential Acceptability and Effectiveness of a Novel Telehealth Treatment for People Experiencing Gambling Harm. Oakes, J., Northe, V., Darwin, C., et al.[2022]

The Ria Treatment Platform (RTP) is a novel telemedicine program for treating alcohol use disorder (AUD) that combines physician visits, medication, and support through a smartphone app, showing a 50% reduction in average blood alcohol content (BAC) among engaged patients over 90 days.

With a treatment retention rate of 55% at 90 days, the RTP demonstrates promising efficacy in reducing alcohol use, highlighting the potential of integrating technology and medical support in AUD treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A novel telehealth platform for alcohol use disorder treatment: preliminary evidence of reductions in drinking. Mitchell, MM., Mendelson, J., Gryczynski, J., et al.[2021]

A pilot study involving 127 rural alcohol users showed that participating in 3 or more sessions of motivational enhancement therapy via telemedicine significantly reduced the likelihood of any alcohol use by 72%.

While there were no overall differences between groups, those who engaged in more sessions reported fewer days of drinking, fewer drinks per week, and fewer days with alcohol-related problems, suggesting that telemedicine can effectively reach at-risk populations who may not seek traditional treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

METelemedicine: a pilot study with rural alcohol users on community supervision. Staton-Tindall, M., Havens, JR., Webster, JM., et al.[2021]

In a study of 240 patients who completed a 12-week residential treatment for alcohol use disorder, high-frequency telephone-based continuing care (10 contacts) significantly improved abstinence rates at 6 months compared to a control group.

Patients receiving high-frequency telephone support also demonstrated greater alcohol-related self-efficacy and a longer time to relapse, suggesting that proactive contact from known psychotherapists can enhance recovery and prevent relapse after treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telephone- and Text Message-Based Continuing Care After Residential Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Multicenter Study. Graser, Y., Stutz, S., Rösner, S., et al.[2021]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telemedicine-based alcohol services for rural offenders. [2021]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and comparative effectiveness of telephone and smartphone remote continuing care interventions for alcohol use disorder: a randomized controlled trial. [2023]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Change in Drug Use Disorders Identification Test - Consumption (DUDIT-C) with Telehealth Treatment Compared to in-Person Treatment. [2023]

4. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exploring client messages in a therapist-guided internet intervention for alcohol use disorders - A content analysis. [2022]

5. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing and Implementing a Web-Based Relapse Prevention Psychotherapy Program for Patients With Alcohol Use Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2023]

6. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measures of Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Quality of Telemedicine in the Management of Alcohol Abuse, Addiction, and Rehabilitation: Systematic Review. [2020]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Case Study Demonstration of the Potential Acceptability and Effectiveness of a Novel Telehealth Treatment for People Experiencing Gambling Harm. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A novel telehealth platform for alcohol use disorder treatment: preliminary evidence of reductions in drinking. [2021]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

METelemedicine: a pilot study with rural alcohol users on community supervision. [2021]

10. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Telephone- and Text Message-Based Continuing Care After Residential Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Multicenter Study. [2021]