Interactive Voice Response with Feedback Intervention in Outpatient Treatment of Substance Use Problems in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

PurposeSubstance use disorders and problematic substance use are common problems in adolescence and young adulthood. Brief personalized feedback has been suggested for treatment of alcohol and drug problems and poor mental health. This repeated measurement randomized controlled trial examines the effect of an interactive voice response (IVR) system for assessing stress, depression, anxiety and substance use.MethodsThe IVR system was used twice weekly over 3 months after treatment initiation, with or without addition of a personalized feedback intervention on stress and mental health symptoms. Both IVR assessment only (control group) and IVR assessment including feedback (intervention group) were provided as an add-on to treatment-as-usual procedures (TAU) in outpatient treatment of substance use problems in adolescents and young adults (N = 73).ResultsBy using a mixed models approach, differences in change scores were analyzed over the three-month assessment period. Compared to the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in the Arnetz and Hasson stress score (AHSS, p = 0.019), the total Symptoms Checklist 8 score (SCL-8D, p = 0.037), the SCL-8D anxiety sub-score (p = 0.017), and on a summarized feedback score (p = 0.026), but not on the depression subscale. There were no differences in global substance use scores between the intervention group (feedback on mental health symptoms) and the control group.ConclusionIn conclusion, IVR may be useful for follow-up and repeated interventions as an add-on to regular treatment, and personalized feedback could potentially improve mental health in adolescents and young adults with problematic substance use.

Editorial on IJBM Special Issue—E-Health Interventions for Addictive Behaviors

“…All in all, what Andersson et al [16] conclude, after not finding effects of an automated interactive voice response intervention as an add-on to psychotherapy for substancedependent young people, applies to some extent to the other papers in this special issue addressing feasibility and effectiveness of e-health interventions. The addition of e-health technologies is a promising tool in alleviating symptoms during treatment, but more remains to be studied about its potential role, and moderators of this role, in treating substance use disorder or improving treatment alliance.…”

“…Four of the five papers [13][14][15][16] are randomized controlled trials (RCTs), while the fifth paper presents a large naturalistic cohort study [12]. In the latter cohort study, Johansson et al examined intervention use patterns and variables associated with reductions in alcohol consumption for 1043 Internet help-seekers.…”

“…1 for an example of four visualizations from interventions described in this issue that contrast with one another. The main body of articles in the issue follows three key themes, with three articles focusing on the methodology of developing e-health interventions [3][4][5], six focusing on issues of alliance and engagement with e-health interventions [6][7][8][9][10][11], and five articles reporting on empirical outcomes [12][13][14][15][16]. While the focus throughout is addictive behaviors, much of the knowledge collected in the issue has clear relevance for other behaviors, both in the mental health field and in the management of somatic illness, where the user's behavior is essential for maintaining or improving health.…”

High Rates of Tramadol Use among Treatment-Seeking Adolescents in Malmö, Sweden: A Study of Hair Analysis of Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use

“…Patients were recruited to the facility from October 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013, taking part in an RCT assessing the potential effects of an Interactive Voice Response with automated personalized feedback on treatment retention and clinical improvement in treatment [ 33 ].…”

“…In the present analyses, based on a sample from a treatment study [ 33 ], the first aim was to determine the prevalence of NMPOU, including tramadol, and other substances, through drug screening in hair, in treatment-seeking adolescents and young adults. A second aim was to provide a description of prescription opioid users, with special reference to use and misuse of other substances, psychiatric comorbidity, and sociodemographic data.…”