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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01399554

Exercise as Alcohol Use Disorders Intervention for Non-Treatment Seeking Adults

Alcohol use disorders are common and few individuals with the disorder ever seek help. This study proposes to intervene in a novel way - exercise, as it has many mental and physical health benefits and is an activity that is incompatible with simultaneous alcohol use. If effective, this non-stigmatizing intervention may increase the utility and acceptability of interventions for alcohol use disorders and ultimately increase the number of individuals effectively treated.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol-Related Disorders Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

21 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

Primary location

Saint Louis University

St Louis, Missouri, 63103, United States

About this study

About 26 million Americans (8.5%) meet criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD; i.e., abuse or dependence), and most with an AUD will not ever seek help. A variety of reasons exist for not seeking help, with stigma and desire to handle the problem on one's own being primary among them. Therefore, offering interventions for AUD that do not stigmatize or require an individual to see a mental health professional may increase the utility and acceptability of AUD interventions and ultimately increase the number of individuals effectively treated. This pilot study evaluates exercise as an AUD intervention. Exercise has been proposed as a potential treatment for AUD due to its numerous mental and physical health benefits. Thirty sedentary non-treatment seeking AUD individuals to be recruited from the community via advertisements. Participants will be given a four month YMCA gym membership and will be randomized to one of two conditions: (1) assessment only (AO), or (2) a combination of two motivational enhancement therapy (MET) sessions focused on increasing exercise spaced two months apart and four months of weekly contingency management (CM) for adhering to specific exercise activities. MET is a client-centered, directive method of enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence, and CM is a behavioral treatment offering individuals tangible reinforcers such as prizes for completion of specific target behaviors. Assessments of all participants will take place at baseline, 2-months (mid-treatment), and 4-months (post-treatment. Results from this pilot study will guide future investigations of exercise as a method for intervening with non-treatment seeking AUD individuals.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 21-55 years
  • English speaking
  • Sedentary
  • Alcohol-related problems
  • Recent heavy drinking episodes
  • Blood pressure <165/95 mmHg

Exclusion criteria

  • Currently receiving or desiring treatment for alcohol problems
  • Contraindications for exercise
  • Acute psychiatric problems that require immediate treatment
  • Obese - class II
  • Pregnant or desire to become so in the next several months
  • Other substance dependence
  • In recovery for pathological gambling

Treatment and study plan

Motivational Enhancement Therapy plus Contingency Management

Behavioral

A combination of two motivational enhancement therapy (MET) sessions focused on increasing exercise spaced two months apart and four months of weekly contingency management (CM) for adhering to specific exercise activities. MET is a client-centered, directive method of enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence, and CM is a behavioral treatment offering individuals tangible reinforcers such as prizes for completion of specific target behaviors.

Other names: MET, CM

Primary outcomes

  1. Monthly drinking frequency

    Time frame: Six months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Monthly Exercise Behavior

    Time frame: Six months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

St. Louis University

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
  • University of Connecticut

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2011
Primary completion
2013
Study completion
2013
First posted
Jul 22, 2011
Registry last updated
Apr 7, 2014

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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