581 – 6-month outcomes of a single blind randomised trial of supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use disorder

Abstract

Background and objectives Supportive text messages have the potential to provide personalised support for patients with depression and co-morbid Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The objectives of the study are to explore the six months follow-up effects of twice daily supportive text messages delivered over a three month period on mood and abstinence outcomes for patients with depression and co-morbid AUD. Methods Participants (n=54) with a DSM IV diagnosis of unipolar depression and AUD who completed an in-patient dual diagnosis treatment programme were randomised to receive twice daily supportive text messages (n = 26) or a fortnightly thank you text message (n = 28) for three months. Primary outcome measures at six months were Beck's Depression Inventory (BDIII) scores and Cumulative Abstinence Duration (CAD). Trial registration: NCT0137868. Results Unlike at three months, there was no statistically significant difference in six month BDI-II scores between the intervention (n=24) and control (n=24) groups; 13.28 (SD=8.7) vs. 15.08 (SD=11.37) respectively after adjusting for the baseline scores, F (1, 45) =0.192, p=0.66. There was also no significant difference in CAD between the text message group and the control group: 84.14 days (9.20) vs. 74.73 days (28.97), t= 1.422, df=41, p=0.16. However, patients in the intervention group had significantly higher days to first drink compared to those in the control group: 119.9 (47.7) vs. 62.4 (44.9), t=2.99, df=22, p=0.01. Conclusion The effects of supportive text message intervention were not sustained beyond the period that the patients were receiving the intervention.