A randomized controlled trial of a therapeutic relational agent for reducing substance misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic
| Autor: | Prochaska, Judith J, Vogel, Erin A, Chieng, Amy, Baiocchi, Michael, Maglalang, Dale Dagar, Pajarito, Sarah, Weingardt, Kenneth R, Darcy, Alison, Robinson, Athena |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2021 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Artificial intelligence Drug Abuse (NIDA Only) Pediatric Research Initiative Substance-Related Disorders Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities COVID-19 pandemic Medical and Health Sciences Oral and gastrointestinal Clinical Research mental disorders Relational conversational agent Behavioral and Social Science Humans Pandemics SARS-CoV-2 Depression Prevention Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Substance Abuse COVID-19 Brain Disorders Stroke Mental Health Randomized controlled trial Female |
| Popis: | BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs), while alcohol and cannabis retail sales increased. During the pandemic, we tested a tailored digital health solution, Woebot-SUDs (W-SUDs), for reducing substance misuse.MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial, we compared W-SUDs for 8 weeks to a waitlist control. U.S. adults (N = 180) who screened positive for substance misuse (CAGE-AID>1) were enrolled June-August 2020. The primary outcome was the change in past-month substance use occasions from baseline to end-of-treatment (EOT). Study retention was 84%. General linear models tested group differences in baseline-to-EOT change scores, adjusting for baseline differences and attrition.ResultsAt baseline, the sample (age M = 40, SD = 12, 65% female, 68% non-Hispanic white) averaged 30.2 (SD = 18.6) substance occasions in the past month. Most (77%) reported alcohol problems, 28% cannabis, and 45% multiple substances; 46% reported moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Treatment participants averaged 920 in-app text messages (SD = 892, Median = 701); 96% of completed lessons were rated positively; and 88% would recommend W-SUDs. Relative to waitlist, W-SUDs participants significantly reduced past-month substance use occasions (M = -9.1, SE = 2.0 vs. M = -3.3, SE = 1.8; p = .039). Secondary substance use and mood outcomes did not change significantly by group; however, reductions in substance use occasions correlated significantly with increased confidence and fewer substance use problems, cravings, depression and anxiety symptoms, and pandemic-related mental health effects (p-value |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
|