High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study
Abstract Background A large proportion of individuals with alcohol problems do not seek psychological treatment, but access to such treatment could potentially be increased by delivering it over the Internet. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as one of the psychological treatment...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2017-05-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-017-1355-6 |
| _version_ | 1818850975799050240 |
|---|---|
| author | Christopher Sundström Martin Kraepelien Niels Eék Claudia Fahlke Viktor Kaldo Anne H. Berman |
| author_facet | Christopher Sundström Martin Kraepelien Niels Eék Claudia Fahlke Viktor Kaldo Anne H. Berman |
| author_sort | Christopher Sundström |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A large proportion of individuals with alcohol problems do not seek psychological treatment, but access to such treatment could potentially be increased by delivering it over the Internet. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as one of the psychological treatments for alcohol problems for which evidence is most robust. This study evaluated a new, therapist-guided internet-based CBT program (entitled ePlus) for individuals with alcohol use disorders. Methods Participants in the study (n = 13) were recruited through an alcohol self-help web site ( www.alkoholhjalpen.se ) and, after initial internet screening, were diagnostically assessed by telephone. Eligible participants were offered access to the therapist-guided 12-week program. The main outcomes were treatment usage data (module completion, treatment satisfaction) as well as glasses of alcohol consumed the preceding week, measured with the self-rated Timeline Followback (TLFB). Participant data were collected at screening (T0), immediately pre-treatment (T1), post-treatment (T2) and 3 months post-treatment (T3). Results Most participants were active throughout the treatment and found it highly acceptable. Significant reductions in alcohol consumption with a large within-group effect size were found at the three-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures of craving and self-efficacy, as well as depression and quality of life, also showed significant improvements with moderate to large within-group effect sizes. Conclusions Therapist-guided internet-based CBT may be a feasible and effective alternative for people with alcohol use disorders. In view of the high acceptability and the large within-group effect sizes found in this small pilot, a randomized controlled trial investigating treatment efficacy is warranted. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02384278 , February 26, 2015). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:57:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7e67c4f0124248728b4439dc801421e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T06:57:40Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e67c4f0124248728b4439dc801421e42022-12-21T20:31:29ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2017-05-0117111210.1186/s12888-017-1355-6High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot studyChristopher Sundström0Martin Kraepelien1Niels Eék2Claudia Fahlke3Viktor Kaldo4Anne H. Berman5Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Centre for Psychiatry ResearchDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Centre for Psychiatry ResearchDepartment of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, GothenborgDepartment of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, GothenborgDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Centre for Psychiatry ResearchDepartment of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Centre for Psychiatry ResearchAbstract Background A large proportion of individuals with alcohol problems do not seek psychological treatment, but access to such treatment could potentially be increased by delivering it over the Internet. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is widely recognized as one of the psychological treatments for alcohol problems for which evidence is most robust. This study evaluated a new, therapist-guided internet-based CBT program (entitled ePlus) for individuals with alcohol use disorders. Methods Participants in the study (n = 13) were recruited through an alcohol self-help web site ( www.alkoholhjalpen.se ) and, after initial internet screening, were diagnostically assessed by telephone. Eligible participants were offered access to the therapist-guided 12-week program. The main outcomes were treatment usage data (module completion, treatment satisfaction) as well as glasses of alcohol consumed the preceding week, measured with the self-rated Timeline Followback (TLFB). Participant data were collected at screening (T0), immediately pre-treatment (T1), post-treatment (T2) and 3 months post-treatment (T3). Results Most participants were active throughout the treatment and found it highly acceptable. Significant reductions in alcohol consumption with a large within-group effect size were found at the three-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures of craving and self-efficacy, as well as depression and quality of life, also showed significant improvements with moderate to large within-group effect sizes. Conclusions Therapist-guided internet-based CBT may be a feasible and effective alternative for people with alcohol use disorders. In view of the high acceptability and the large within-group effect sizes found in this small pilot, a randomized controlled trial investigating treatment efficacy is warranted. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02384278 , February 26, 2015).http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-017-1355-6Cognitive behavior therapyAlcohol use disordersAlcohol dependenceInternet-based psychotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Sundström Martin Kraepelien Niels Eék Claudia Fahlke Viktor Kaldo Anne H. Berman High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study BMC Psychiatry Cognitive behavior therapy Alcohol use disorders Alcohol dependence Internet-based psychotherapy |
| title | High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study |
| title_full | High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study |
| title_fullStr | High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study |
| title_short | High-intensity therapist-guided internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder: a pilot study |
| title_sort | high intensity therapist guided internet based cognitive behavior therapy for alcohol use disorder a pilot study |
| topic | Cognitive behavior therapy Alcohol use disorders Alcohol dependence Internet-based psychotherapy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-017-1355-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christophersundstrom highintensitytherapistguidedinternetbasedcognitivebehaviortherapyforalcoholusedisorderapilotstudy AT martinkraepelien highintensitytherapistguidedinternetbasedcognitivebehaviortherapyforalcoholusedisorderapilotstudy AT nielseek highintensitytherapistguidedinternetbasedcognitivebehaviortherapyforalcoholusedisorderapilotstudy AT claudiafahlke highintensitytherapistguidedinternetbasedcognitivebehaviortherapyforalcoholusedisorderapilotstudy AT viktorkaldo highintensitytherapistguidedinternetbasedcognitivebehaviortherapyforalcoholusedisorderapilotstudy AT annehberman highintensitytherapistguidedinternetbasedcognitivebehaviortherapyforalcoholusedisorderapilotstudy |