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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01318538

Women's Recovery Group (WRG) Study - A Randomized Controlled Stage II Trial

The purpose of this Stage II randomized controlled behavioral treatment development trial was to test the effectiveness of the Women's Recovery Group (WRG) relative to mixed-gender Group Drug Counseling (GDC) and demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the WRG in an open-enrollment (i.e., rolling admission) group format at two clinical sites. The Stage II trial aims were to (1) investigate effectiveness of the WRG relative to GDC in a sample of women heterogeneous with respect to substance use and co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and (2) demonstrate the feasibility of implementing WRG in an open enrollment group format characteristic of community treatment programs at two sites.

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Key information

Conditions

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

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

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About this study

This Stage II trial builds on the Stage I trial that compared the single-gender WRG to mixed-gender GDC and demonstrated preliminary support for the WRG in treating women with substance use disorders (SUDs). It was hypothesized that women in the WRG would decrease their substance use more so than women in the GDC. The GDC was chosen as the comparison group to approximate group drug counseling that is consistent with treatment as usual within the community. The WRG is a manual-based group therapy for women heterogeneous with respect to their substance dependence, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, trauma history, and age and stage of life. The WRG is a 12-session structured relapse prevention group therapy that utilizes a cognitive-behavioral approach and includes gender-specific content and single-gender group composition. There are 14 specific session topics that can be flexibly implemented in any order for a 12-week sequence of groups. In the Stage I trial, women were randomized to WRG (n=16) or mixed-gender GDC (n =7). No significant differences in outcomes emerged between WRG and GDC during the 12 week group sequence. However, in the 6 months post-treatment, WRG participants showed a pattern of continued reductions in substance use while GDC participants did not. While the design of the Stage I trial was essential for treatment development and testing, the Stage I trial had a small sample size and used a semi-closed enrollment format. However, most treatment is delivered in an open enrollment format (i.e., rolling admission) in which patients enter at any time in the group sequence and exit the group after 12 weeks are completed. Because WRG is intended to be a manual-based treatment ready for dissemination into clinical practice if demonstrated to be effective, the Stage II trial was designed to be implemented in an open group format and to enroll a larger, more diverse sample at two clinical sites. The study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of the WRG relative to the GDC in (1) reducing days of use of any substance from baseline in a sample of women with heterogeneity with regard to their substance dependence, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, and other demographic characteristics, and (2) to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the WRG in an open-enrollment group format.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Subjects were included in the study if they:
  • were 18 years or older
  • used substances within the past 60 days
  • met current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-IV criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2000; World Health Organization, 1997) of substance dependence (in addition to any nicotine dependence)
  • planned to stay within the area during the study period
  • consented for study personnel to communicate with other mental health professionals from whom they are receiving care
  • furnished the names of two locators who can assist study personnel in locating them during the study period
  • were interested in group treatment
  • lived close enough either to McLean Hospital or SSTAR to come to group weekly
  • were able to sign informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patients were excluded if they:
  • had a current medical condition that would prevent regular group attendance
  • had mental retardation or organic mental disorder
  • had certain other major Axis I psychiatric disorders according to the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), such as psychotic disorders or bipolar I disorder
  • would be in a residential treatment setting throughout the treatment period in which substance use is monitored and restricted (e.g., a therapeutic community)
  • required medical detoxification (these patients could enter the study after being detoxified)
  • were current intravenous drug users
  • engaged in self-destructive behaviors (e.g., life-threatening bulimia or anorexia, suicide attempts and chronic suicidality) or other behaviors (e.g., violence toward others, assault behaviors)

Treatment and study plan

The Women's Recovery Group

Behavioral

The Women's Recovery Group (WRG) is a manual-based group therapy for women heterogeneous with respect to their substance use disorder, co-occurring psychiatric disorders, trauma history, age, and stage of life. The WRG is a 12-session, structured relapse-prevention group therapy that utilizes a cognitive behavioral approach and includes gender-specific content and single-gender group composition. Individual session content was derived from research on gender-specific substance use disorder antecedents, consequences, and treatment outcomes. The overall goals of the treatment are to (1) promote abstinence from all substances including alcohol; (2) improve understanding of specific aspects of SUDs, recovery, and relapse that are relevant to women, and (3) help participants with skills and strategies useful in preventing relapse and promoting recovery.

Other names: WRG

Group Drug Counseling

Behavioral

Group Drug Counseling (GDC) is a standard 12-week, 90-minute mixed-gender group therapy. The overall goals of GDC are to 1) help patients to achieve abstinence from all substances including alcohol; 2) educate patients regarding recovery from substance use disorders; 3) increase patients' self-awareness of the problems that their substance use disorder has caused; 4) encourage patients to give mutual support; and 5) help patients learn new ways to cope with problems in order to prevent relapse. The GDC was chosen as the comparison group to approximate group drug counseling that is consistent with treatment as usual within the community.

Other names: GDC

Primary outcomes

  1. Percent Change in Mean Days of Any Substance Use for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the percent change from baseline in the mean number of days per month of any substance use (i.e. drug and/or alcohol) for women. Days of substance use was assessed using the Timeline Follow-Back at baseline and then monthly for 9 months. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline data of mean days of any substance use. Outcomes were analyzed using loglinear (negative binomial) regression models with estimation via generalized estimating equations (GEE). The models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

  2. Change in Mean ASI Alcohol Composite Score for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the change from baseline in mean ASI Alcohol composite scores. The ASI was administered at baseline, at months 1-6, and then at month 9. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline ASI data. Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effect models. These models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

    The ASI is a multidimensional assessment of substance-related problems which yields composite scores for alcohol use, drug use, psychiatric status, medical status, legal status, family/social relationships, and employment status. Composite scores range from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating more significant problems.

  3. Change in Mean ASI Drug Composite Score for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the change from baseline in mean ASI Drug composite scores. The ASI was administered at baseline, at months 1-6, and then at month 9. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline ASI data. Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed effect models. These models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

    The ASI is a multidimensional assessment of substance-related problems which yields composite scores for alcohol use, drug use, psychiatric status, medical status, legal status, family/social relationships, and employment status. Composite scores range from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating more significant problems.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Percent Change in Mean Alcohol Use Days for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the percent change from baseline in the mean number of alcohol use days. Days of alcohol use was assessed using the Timeline Follow-Back at baseline and then monthly for 9 months. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline alcohol use data. Outcomes were analyzed using loglinear (negative binomial) regression models with estimation via generalized estimating equations (GEE). The models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

  2. Percent Change in Mean Drug Use Days for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the percent change from baseline in the mean number of drug use days (excluding alcohol) for women. Days of drug use was assessed using the Timeline Follow-Back at baseline and then monthly for 9 months. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline data of mean drug use days. Outcomes were analyzed using loglinear (negative binomial) regression models with estimation via generalized estimating equations (GEE). The models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

  3. Percent Change in Mean Heavy Drinking Days for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the percent change from baseline in the mean number of heavy drinking days for women. Number of heavy drinking days was assessed using the Timeline Follow-Back at baseline and then monthly for 9 months. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline data of mean heavy drinking days. Outcomes were analyzed using loglinear (negative binomial) regression models with estimation via generalized estimating equations (GEE). The models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

  4. Change in Mean Drinks Per Drinking Day for Women

    Time frame: In-treatment (months 1-3), 3 Month Post-treatment (months 4-6), 6 Month Post-Treatment (months 7-9)

    This represents the change from baseline in the mean number of drinks per drinking day. Drinks per drinking day was assessed using the Timeline Follow-Back at baseline and then monthly for 9 months. The In-Treatment phase includes months 1-3, the 3 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 4-6, and the 6 Month Post-Treatment phase includes months 7-9. The in-treatment and 2 post-treatment phases were compared to baseline data of mean drinks per drinking day. Outcomes were analyzed using loglinear (negative binomial) regression models with estimation via generalized estimating equations (GEE). The models included the effects of treatment group, phase (3 levels), and the treatment group by phase interaction.

Other outcomes

  1. Therapist Adherence

    Time frame: In treatment (weeks 1-12)

    All therapists were female to eliminate any therapist-patient gender matching effects. There were eight therapists in total: 4 who led WRG groups and 4 who led GDC groups. All group sessions were videotaped each week so that we could measure therapist adherence to the treatment they were assigned to. Two independent raters completed adherence scales for a random selection of 20% of WRG and 10%of GDC sessions. For both groups, the extensiveness to which the therapist engaged in a behavior during the session was rated with a 5-point Likert scale (0 = not at all; 4 = extensively). Adherence scores were calculated by averaging all scores for each question (25 questions for WRG; 18 for GDC) on the measure. The scores reported here represent the average of all WRG therapists scores from all session, and all GDC therapist scores from all sessions. Scores range from 0 to 4.

  2. Group Attendance

    Time frame: In treatment (weeks 1-12)

    Treatment attendance was calculated by summing the number of treatment sessions attended. Therefore, numbers range from 0-12.

  3. Group Stability

    Time frame: In treatment (weeks 1-12)

    Treatment group stability was calculated using the Percentage of Group Change Index which captures change in group membership composition from session to session separately for each individual within each group (specific to the calendar period that each person was in the group). The value can range from 0 (i.e., the exact same membership from one session to the next) to 1 (i.e., complete turnover in membership). The average values across all sessions were taken to get an overall sense of the amount of turnover each person experienced in the group during the period in calendar time they were in treatment.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mclean Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Registry information

Official study title

Recovery Group for Women With Substance Use Disorders - Stage II Trial

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2011
Study completion
2012
First posted
Mar 18, 2011
Registry last updated
Jun 5, 2017

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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