Pilot study of Assertive Community Treatment in Alcohol Dependence

ISRCTN ISRCTN22775534
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN22775534
Secondary identifying numbers MRC ref: G0701818
Submission date
21/01/2009
Registration date
27/03/2009
Last edited
19/12/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Colin Drummond
Scientific

Section of Alcohol Research
National Addiction Centre
PO Box 48
Department of Addictions
4 Windsor Walk
London
SE5 8BB
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designPilot randomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Can be found at: http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/iopweb/blob/downloads/locator/l_1070_C2_PIS_08_H0801_113_SLAM_V2.doc
Scientific titleAssertive Community Treatment in Alcohol Dependence: a pilot randomised controlled trial
Study acronymACTAD
Study objectivesAs of 15/03/2010, this record has been substantially amended to include changes to the protocol; all changes can be found in the relevant field with the above update date. At this time, the target number of participants was increased from 88 to 132.

Assertive community treatment for chronic relapsing alcohol dependence results in better clinical outcomes than standard treatment and is more cost effective.

More details can be found at: http://www.iop.kcl.ac.uk/departments/?locator=1070
Ethics approval(s)Joint South London and Maudsley and the Institute of Psychiatry NHS Research Ethics Committee, approved on 15/09/2008 (ref: 08/H0801/113)

Added 15/03/2010:
A substantial amendment was approved by the above ethics board on the 29th January 2010.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedAlcohol dependency/ community alcohol services
InterventionCurrent interventions as of 15/03/2010:
Participants will be individually randomised to the following two arms (randomisation ration 2:1).

Arm 1: Control condition, standard treatment comprising:
1. An assigned keyworker (caseload greater than 25)
2. Care plan
3. Psychological interventions as necessary
4. Pharmacotherapies
5. Inpatient treatment
6. Referral to, and liaison with, other agencies)
7. Duration of care less than or equal to 3 months

Arm 2: Assertive Community Treatment, including standard treatment plus:
1. Rapid access to services
2. Staff with a small caseload (less than or equal to 15)
3. A high ratio of in vivo to office-based appointments
4. Assertive engagement
5. Focus of care extended beyond alcohol dependence
6. A shared care approach
7. Care coordinators working within a multidisciplinary team that meets frequently
8. Extended contact with patients over 12 months

Initial information at time of registration:
Participants will be individually randomised to the following two arms (randomisation ratio 1:1):

Control condition, standard treatment comprising:
a. An assigned keyworker (caseload >25)
b. Care plan
c. Psychological interventions as necessary
d. Pharmacotherapies
e. Inpatient treatment
f. Referral to, and liaison with, other agencies

Assertive Community Treatment, including standard treatment plus:
a. Rapid access to services
b. A small caseload (<=15)
c. A high ratio of 'in vivo' to office based appointments
d. Extensive motivational interviewing
e. Assertive coordinators working within a multidisciplinary team that meets frequently
f. Extended contact with patients over 12 months

The interventions will be running for 26 months of the trial. The length of the interventions for each patient will be 12 months.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureAlcohol consumption assessed using the Time Follow Back Interview (Form 90) to provide a measure of mean drinks per drinking day and percent days abstinent. This will be assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), at 6 months and 12 months follow up.
Secondary outcome measures1. Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
2. Alcohol Problems Questionnaire, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
3. Motivation, assessed by the Readiness to Change Questionnaire, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
4. Social Network Involvement, assessed by the Important People and Activities Inventory, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
5. Psychiatric symptoms, assessed by the SF-12® Health Survey, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
6. Quality of Life, assessed by Euroqol EQ-5D, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
7. Therapeutic relationships, assessed by the Scale To Assess Relationships in community mental health care (STAR), assessed during the 6 month and 12 month follow up interviews
8. Service User Questionnaire, assessed at baseline (receipt of referral by community alcohol team), 6 months and 12 months follow up
9. Treatment engagement, including completion of assessment, detoxification and aftercare, assessed during the 6 month and 12 month follow up interviews
Overall study start date12/01/2009
Completion date11/01/2012

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants88
Key inclusion criteriaCurrent inclusion criteria as of 15/03/2010:
1. Both males and females, adult patients (greater than or equal to 18 years)
2. One or more previous episodes of treatment for alcohol dependence in the last 5 years in community drug and alcohol services
3. Alcohol dependent (as determined by Composite International Diagnostic Interview- Short Form [CIDI-SF])

Initial information at time of registration:
1. Both males and females, adult patients (greater than or equal to 18 years)
2. Severe alcohol dependence (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition [DSM-IV] and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire Score greater than or equal to 30)
3. History of premature disengagement from alcohol services (one or more previous episodes of non-completion of treatment)
4. Patients with potentially more complex needs (e.g., lack of social support, unstable housing, physical illness, depression, legal problems)
Key exclusion criteriaCurrent exclusion criteria as of 15/03/2010:
1. Attended a professional service for alcohol dependence in the last 6 months
2. Street homeless
3. Diagnosed with a psychotic disorder
4. Is in receipt of assertive outreach services, or has Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) input greater than or equal to once a month
5. Has a severe cognitive impairment
6. Has a history of violence to treatment staff and/or Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) registered

Initial information at time of registration:
1. Patients with concurrent severe mental illness
2. Patients with severe cognitive impairment
3. Patients already in receipt of assertive treatment services
Date of first enrolment12/01/2009
Date of final enrolment11/01/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Section of Alcohol Research
London
SE5 8BB
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

King's College London (UK)
University/education

c/o Prof John Strang
National Addiction Centre
PO Box 48
Division of Psycholigical Medicine & Psychiatry
4 Windsor Walk
London
SE5 8BB
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.kcl.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0220mzb33

Funders

Funder type

Government

Medical Research Council (UK) (ref: G0701818)
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article protocol 20/02/2012 Yes No
Results article results 09/03/2017 Yes No

Editorial Notes

19/12/2017: Publication reference added.