Jennifer M. Connolly

Randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioural therapy for coexisting depression and alcohol problems: short-term outcome

AIMSnAlcohol use disorders and depression co-occur frequently and are associated with poorer outcomes than when either condition occurs alone. The present study (Depression and Alcohol Integrated and Single-focused Interventions; DAISI) aimed to compare the effectiveness of brief intervention, single-focused and integrated psychological interventions for treatment of coexisting depression and alcohol use problems.nnnMETHODSnParticipants (n = 284) with current depressive symptoms and hazardous alcohol use were assessed and randomly allocated to one of four individually delivered interventions: (i) a brief intervention only (single 90-minute session) with an integrated focus on depression and alcohol, or followed by a further nine 1-hour sessions with (ii) an alcohol focus; (iii) a depression focus; or (iv) an integrated focus. Follow-up assessments occurred 18 weeks after baseline.nnnRESULTSnCompared with the brief intervention, 10 sessions were associated with greater reductions in average drinks per week, average drinking days per week and maximum consumption on 1 day. No difference in duration of treatment was found for depression outcomes. Compared with single-focused interventions, integrated treatment was associated with a greater reduction in drinking days and level of depression. For men, the alcohol-focused rather than depression-focused intervention was associated with a greater reduction in average drinks per day and drinks per week and an increased level of general functioning. Women showed greater improvements on each of these variables when they received depression-focused rather than alcohol-focused treatment.nnnCONCLUSIONSnIntegrated treatment may be superior to single-focused treatment for coexisting depression and alcohol problems, at least in the short term. Gender differences between single-focused depression and alcohol treatments warrant further study.

The Craving Experience Questionnaire: a brief, theory-based measure of consummatory desire and craving

BACKGROUND AND AIMSnResearch into craving is hampered by lack of theoretical specification and a plethora of substance-specific measures. This study aimed to develop a generic measure of craving based on elaborated intrusion (EI) theory. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined whether a generic measure replicated the three-factor structure of the Alcohol Craving Experience (ACE) scale over different consummatory targets and time-frames.nnnDESIGNnTwelve studies were pooled for CFA. Targets included alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate and food. Focal periods varied from the present moment to the previous week. Separate analyses were conducted for strength and frequency forms.nnnSETTINGnNine studies included university students, with single studies drawn from an internet survey, a community sample of smokers and alcohol-dependent out-patients.nnnPARTICIPANTSnA heterogeneous sample of 1230 participants.nnnMEASUREMENTSnAdaptations of the ACE questionnaire.nnnFINDINGSnBoth craving strength [comparative fit indices (CFI = 0.974; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.039, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.035-0.044] and frequency (CFI = 0.971, RMSEA = 0.049, 95% CI = 0.044-0.055) gave an acceptable three-factor solution across desired targets that mapped onto the structure of the original ACE (intensity, imagery, intrusiveness), after removing an item, re-allocating another and taking intercorrelated error terms into account. Similar structures were obtained across time-frames and targets. Preliminary validity data on the resulting 10-item Craving Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) for cigarettes and alcohol were strong.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe Craving Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) is a brief, conceptually grounded and psychometrically sound measure of desires. It demonstrates a consistent factor structure across a range of consummatory targets in both laboratory and clinical contexts.

Interventions for co-occurring addictive and other mental disorders (AMDs).

While research on the management of co-occurring addictive and mental disorders (AMDs) has grown substantially in recent years, we still have little guidance on specific strategies. Consideration of epidemiological research and ethical principles can supplement existing clinical trials in providing a way forward. High frequencies of co-occurring disorders, equity of access for affected individuals and potential clashes between services in priorities and procedures, suggest that a stepped model of care by a single service may often be required. Typically, problems are multiple rather than dual, with potential for mutual influence, suggesting a need for interventions that are sensitive to and encompass complex co-occurring problems. Motivational problems are endemic, initial gains are often partial and unstable, and relapses potentially have serious consequences, suggesting a need for long-term, assertive follow-up. Principles such as these provide a solid framework for designing both services and interventions. However, there is a continuing need for controlled trials that unpack effective components of interventions, and increase their impact.

Mailed treatment to augment primary care for alcohol disorders: a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMSnRemote delivery of interventions is needed to address large numbers of people with alcohol use disorders who are spread over large areas. Previous correspondence trials typically examined its effects as stand-alone treatment. This study aimed to test whether adding postal treatment to general practitioner (GP) support would lower alcohol use more than GP intervention alone.nnnDESIGN AND METHODSnA single-blind, randomised controlled trial with a crossover design was conducted over 12 months on 204 people with alcohol use disorders. Participants in an immediate correspondence condition received treatment over the first 3 months; those receiving delayed treatment received it in months 3-6.nnnRESULTSnFew participants were referred from GPs, and little intervention was offered by them. At 3 months, 78% of participants remained in the study. Those in immediate treatment showed greater reductions in alcohol per week, drinking days, anxiety, depression and distress than those in the delayed condition. However, post-treatment and follow-up outcomes still showed elevated alcohol use, depression, anxiety and distress. Greater baseline anxiety predicted better alcohol outcomes, although more mental distress at baseline predicted dropout.nnnDISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONSnThe study gave consistent results with those from previous research on correspondence treatments, and showed that high levels of participant engagement over 3 months can be obtained. Substantial reductions in alcohol use are seen, with indications that they are well maintained. However, many participants continue to show high-risk alcohol use and psychological distress.

Craving as a predictor of treatment outcomes in heavy drinkers with comorbid depressed mood

Alcohol and depression comorbidity is high and is associated with poorer outcomes following treatment. The ability to predict likely treatment response would be advantageous for treatment planning. Craving has been widely studied as a potential predictor, but has performed inconsistently. The effect of comorbid depression on cravings predictive performance however, has been largely neglected, despite demonstrated associations between negative affect and craving. The current study examined the performance of craving, measured pre-treatment using the Obsessive subscale of the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale, in predicting 18-week and 12-month post-treatment alcohol use outcomes in a sample of depressed drinkers. Data for the current study were collected during a randomized controlled trial (Baker, Kavanagh, Kay-Lambkin, Hunt, Lewin, Carr, & Connolly, 2010) comparing treatments for comorbid alcohol and depression. A subset of 260 participants from that trial with a Timeline Followback measure of alcohol consumption was analyzed. Pre-treatment craving was a significant predictor of average weekly alcohol consumption at 18 weeks and of frequency of alcohol binges at 18 weeks and 12 months, but pre-treatment depressive mood was not predictive, and effects of Baseline craving were independent of depressive mood. Results suggest a greater ongoing risk from craving than from depressive mood at Baseline.

Assessment of Co-occurring Addictive and Other Mental Disorders

Publisher Summary Practitioners are often particularly concerned about the impact of illegal substance use—and rightly so, since those substances are implicated in symptom exacerbations and their illegal status has significant potential impact on the user. However, these are not the substances that most commonly produce functional or other problems for people with mental disorders, except in settings where illegal drug use is particularly common. The high frequency of tobacco and alcohol use across the community, and the negative effects these substances can have on people with mental disorders, means that they most commonly emerge as problematic. The high rate of alcohol use and its potential impact on psychotic symptoms, dysphoria, cognition, and social functioning are well known.

Measures of incentives and confidence in using a social robot

Measures of incentives and confidence in using a social robot were stable, predictive, and sensitive to changes in robot behaviors. Measures of incentives and confidence in using a social robot were stable, predictive, and sensitive to changes in robot behaviors.

The revised four-factor motivational thought frequency and state motivation scales for alcohol control

INTRODUCTIONnElaborated Intrusion (EI) Theory holds that both functional and dysfunctional motivational cognitions are characterized by their intensity, cognitive availability and involvement of imagery, and can be assessed in terms of their frequency and cross-sectional nature. Recently published data on the Motivational Thought Frequency (MTF-A) and State Motivation (SM-A) scales for alcohol control, which were based on EI theory, have shown acceptable fit for a three-subscale structure (Intensity, Imagery, Availability). However, subsequent analyses on the MTFs adaptation to diabetic regimen adherence suggested superior fit from a four-factor model, splitting Imagery into Incentives and Self-Efficacy Imagery. The current paper reanalyzed data on the MTF-A and SM-A, including an additional item on each and using a more robust statistical approach.nnnMETHODSnParticipants (nu202f=u202f504) reporting recent high-risk drinking or were currently trying to control alcohol consumption volunteered to complete an online survey that included the MTF-A, SM-A, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and Readiness to Change Questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analyses employed robust maximum likelihood (MLR) with Yuan-Bentler χ2 adjustment, and presented internal consistencies using omega.nnnRESULTSnAfter omission of multivariate outliers, SM-A data were available from 399 participants, and MTF-A data from 351. Better fit was found for the four-factor model on both measures, and high internal consistencies were obtained for all subscales. Incentives Imagery and Self-Efficacy Imagery were both associated with greater alcohol problems and readiness to change.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe four-factor structures are statistically superior and more theoretically coherent, and allow a focused assessment of key targets of motivational interventions.

Baby Steps - an online program promoting the well-being of new mothers and fathers: A study protocol

Background Parental well-being can be seriously impacted during the challenging perinatal period. Most research and support services focus on perinatal psychopathology, leaving a need for programs that recognize and enhance the strengths and well-being of parents. Furthermore, fathers have received minimal attention and support relative to mothers, despite experiencing perinatal distress. New parents have limited time and energy to invest in program attendance, and web-based programs provide an ideal platform for delivering perinatal well-being programs. Such programs are globally accessible, available at any time, and can be accessed anywhere with an Internet connection. Objective This paper describes the protocol of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects on first-time parents’ perinatal well-being, comparing two versions of the online program Baby Steps. Methods The clinical trial will randomize 240 primiparous mother-father couples to either (1) Babycare, an online information-only program providing tips on selected childcare issues, or (2) Well-being, an online interactive program including all content from the Babycare program, plus parental well-being-focused content with tools for goal-setting and problem solving. Both programs will be supported by short message service (SMS) texts at two, four, seven, and ten weeks to encourage continued use of the program. Primary outcomes will be measures of perinatal distress and quality of life. Secondary outcomes will be couple relationship satisfaction, parent self-efficacy, and social support. Cost-effectiveness will also be measured for each Baby Steps program. Results Participant recruitment commenced March, 2015 and continued until October, 2015. Follow-up data collection has commenced and will be completed May, 2016 with results expected in July, 2016. Conclusions Perinatal distress has substantial impacts on parents and their infants, with potential to affect later childhood adjustment, relationships, and development. This study aims to test the impact of a highly accessible online program to support parental coping, and maximize the well-being of both parents. By including fathers in the program, Baby Steps has the potential to engage and support this often neglected group who can make a substantial contribution to familial well-being. ClinicalTrial Australian & New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ANZCTR12614001256662; https://www.anzctr.org.au/ Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=367277 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ibUsjFIL)