Supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use disorder: single-blind randomised trial.

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Authors

Agyapong, Vincent I O
Ahern, Sinead
McLoughlin, Declan M
Farren, Conor K

Issue Date

2012-03-29

Type

Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

en

Keywords

Research Projects

Organizational Units

Journal Issue

Alternative Title

Abstract

Mobile phone text message technology has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with depression and co-morbid Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
To perform a randomised rater-blinded trial to explore the effects of supportive text messages on mood and abstinence outcomes for patients with depression and co-morbid AUD.
Participants (n=54) with a DSM IV diagnosis of unipolar depression and AUD who completed an in-patient dual diagnosis treatment programme were randomised to receive twice daily supportive text messages (n=26) or a fortnightly thank you text message (n=28) for three months. Primary outcome measures were Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) scores and Cumulative Abstinence Duration (CAD) in days at three months.
NCT0137868.
There was a statistically significant difference in three month BDI-II scores between the intervention and control groups; 8.5 (SD=8.0) vs. 16.7 (SD=10.3) respectively after adjusting for the baseline scores, F (1, 49)=9.54, p=0.003, η(p)(2)=0.17. The mean difference in change BDI-II scores was -7.9 (95% CI -13.06 to -2.76, Cohen'sd=0.85). There was a trend for a greater CAD in the text message group than the control group: 88.3 (SD=6.2) vs. 79.3 (SD=24.1), t=1.78, df=48, p=0.08.
Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the potential for loss of rater blinding and the lack of long term follow-up to determine the longer term effects of the intervention.
Supportive text messages have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with comorbid depression and alcohol dependency syndrome.

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Citation

Agyapong, V. I., Ahern, S., McLoughlin, D. M., & Farren, C. K. (2012). Supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use disorder: single-blind randomised trial. Journal of affective disorders, 141(2-3), 168–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.02.040

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Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Journal

Journal of affective disorders

Volume

141

Issue

2-3

PubMed ID

ISSN

1573-2517

EISSN

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