O-03 - Usefulness of supportive text messages to patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression -a single-blind randomised trial

Abstract

Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder and depression (dual diagnosis) present greater challenge to treatment than individuals with a single disorder. Mobile phone technology has the potential to provide personalised support for this group of patients. To explore the feasibility of using supportive text messaging as an effective strategy to improve outcomes in patients with dual diagnosis. The study is a single-blind, randomised, trial of supportive mobile text messages. After randomisation of all fifty four eligible patients, those in the intervention group (n = 26) received twice daily supportive SMS text messages for 3 months. At three months, all the study participants completed a range of assessment tools relating to the outcome measures. Data was analyzed with a combination of statistical methods. The end-point mean Beck's Depression Inventory score was significantly lower in the intervention group compared with the control group: 9.3 (SD = 7.5) vs. 16.0 (SD = 10.3), p = 0.01, Eta Square = 0.12. There was also a statistically significant difference in mean Global Assessment of Function (GAF) scores between the two groups, with the intervention group having a higher mean GAF score compared to the control group: 89.8 (SD = 12.2) VS. 76.1 (SD = 15.3), P < 0.01. Eta square= 0.2. There was also a trend to finding that the mean Cumulative Abstinence Duration in the text message group was higher than that for the control group {88.3 (SD = 6.2) vs. 79.3 (SD = 24.1), p = 0.8). Supportive text messages have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with alcohol dependency syndrome and comorbid depression.