Methamphetamine Dependence
Conditions
Keywords
Methamphetamine, Drug Abuse, Substance Abuse, Amphetamine, Dependence, Addiction, Craving, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Text Messaging
Brief summary
This Phase I, randomized, 22-day crossover study seeks to improve treatment outcomes for methamphetamine-dependent subjects by developing a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)- based short message service (SMS) text messaging intervention as an adjunct to CBT group therapy.
Detailed description
Psychosocial therapies for methamphetamine (MA) addiction all have limited effectiveness, and patients treated for MA dependence have a high rate of relapse. Additionally, there are no currently approved medications for MA dependence. Thus, a significant need exists for add-on therapy for treatment of MA addiction. CBT-based text messaging could serve as a real-time intervention when craving and risk of MA use are high and patients are not in the clinic. It could further serve to reinforce CBT group therapy. If found efficacious, fully-automated CBT-based text messaging would be a relatively inexpensive adjunctive therapy that could be readily scaled up for use in a large number of patients. Additionally, this type of text messaging intervention also could be tailored to individual users, which may enhance its efficacy. This Phase I randomized crossover study will evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of CBT-based text messages in conjunction with CBT group therapy delivered over a 22-day period in MA users in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALText messages
Messages sent at random intervals 4 times per day during weeks 1 and 3. Subjects can also request messages if they are craving methamphetamine
Sponsors
New Leaf Treatment Center
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Main inclusion criterion: * English-speaking adults who are currently seeking treatment for methamphetamine addiction
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility of the intervention in methamphetamine users | 22 days | Subjects will respond to \>50% of text messaging inquiries (about the usefulness of the messages, maximum degree of craving, and whether they have used that day). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptability of the intervention in methamphetamine users | 22 days | Based on responses to follow-up visit questionnaires, is 4 times per day the right amount of text messages for subjects to receive each day? Is a 13-hour period in which subjects would receive messages appropriate? Was the software system selected for this study acceptable? Were the CBT-based text messages overall perceived as useful? Were the placebo text messages overall perceived as useful? |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed