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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00344474

Personality-targeted Interventions for Adolescent Alcohol Misuse

Personality targeted cognitive behavioural interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol and drug misuse in adult substance abusers (Conrod et al., 2000) and adolescent drinkers (Conrod et al, in press). As these interventions target personality traits linked to risk for addictive and non-addictive mental disorders, the aim of this study is to examine the extent to which this approach can prevent and/or reduce alcohol and drug misuse as well as have an impact on the onset or severity of emotional and behavioural problems in young people.

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Key information

Conditions

Alcohol Abuse Alcohol Drinking Alcohol-Related Disorders Alcoholism Antisocial Personality Disorder Anxiety Disorders Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Behavior Behavior, Addictive Behavioral Symptoms Binge Drinking Chemically-Induced Disorders Compulsive Behavior Conduct Disorder Depression Drinking Behavior Drug Abuse Impulsive Behavior Mental Disorders Neurodevelopmental Disorders Panic Disorder Personality Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

13 year–16 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2 / Phase 3

Primary location

Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London

London, SE5 8AF, United Kingdom

About this study

Personality targeted cognitive behavioural interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol and drug misuse in adult substance abusers (Conrod et al., 2000) and adolescent drinkers (Conrod et al, in press). As these interventions target personality traits linked to risk for addictive and non-addictive psychopathology, the aim of this study is to examine the extent to which this approach is effective in preventing and/or reduce alcohol and drug misuse and concurrent psychiatric symptoms in young people.

Method: 875 Participants aged 13-16 years will be screened for personality risk in school-wide self-report assessments. Participants will be randomly assigned to a personality matched cognitive-behavioural intervention or a no-intervention control. The personality matched interventions will target four personality risk factors: negative thinking (NT), anxiety sensitivity (AS), impulsivity (IMP) and sensation seeking (SS). Outcome evaluation will occur 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention. Primary outcomes will be time to onset and severity of alcohol and illicit substance use and misuse. Secondary outcome variables will include depressive symptoms, panic attack rates, reckless and antisocial behaviour. Secondary analyses involving genetic, cognitive and coping skills measures will examine moderators of treatment effects.

Hypotheses: It is expected that personality-targeted interventions will have personality-specific effects on aspects of addictive and non-addictive psychopathology to which each personality risk group is most susceptible.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • secondary school student
  • scoring one standard deviation above the school mean on one of 4 personality dimensions.
  • Able to provide consent from parent/guardian for participation in the study

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Treatment and study plan

PRE-Venture: Personality Risk Education

Behavioral

Motivational and Cognitive-Behavioural interventions targeting four personality risk factors for substance misuse. Two, 90-minute group sessions conducted at school with personality-matched peers and trained psychologists/councellors and co-facilitators.

Primary outcomes

  1. Time to onset and severity of drug use

    Time frame: 2 years

    time to illicit drug use events, assessed using the Reckless Behaviour Questionnaire

  2. Frequency and Quantity of Drinking

    Time frame: 2 years

  3. Problem drinking symptoms

    Time frame: 2 years

    Assessed using an abbreviated version of the Rutger's Alcohol Problem Index

Secondary outcomes

  1. Psychiatric symptoms (depression, panic anxiety, antisocial behaviours), coping skills, motives for drinking

    Time frame: 2 years

    Assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Reckless Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Drinking Motives Questionnaire.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

King's College London

Other

Collaborators

  • Action on Addiction

Registry information

Official study title

A New School-based Drug Prevention Programme for Teenagers: Interventions That Target Personality Risk for Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

Acronym: Preventure

Important dates

Study start
2003
Primary completion
2006
Study completion
2008
First posted
Jun 26, 2006
Registry last updated
Jun 27, 2011

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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