Perception of patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages

Abstract

Very little is known about the perception of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages. To examine the perception of patients with AUD and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages. Participants (n=26) with a DSM IV diagnosis of AUD and depression and completing an in-patient dual diagnosis treatment programme had twice daily supportive text messages delivered to their mobile phones for three months as part of a randomised trial. Participants were contacted at the end of the third month to obtain their views regarding the usefulness of the supportive text messages using a semi-structured questionnaire. Overall, 24 out of 26 patients were contactable for feedback (92% response rate). Eighteen (75%) patients reported that the text messages always or often reminded them to remain abstinent from alcohol. Again, 20 (83%) patients reported that the intervention had played a useful role in helping to improve their mental health, in particular, in serving as a motivation for recovery and in preventing relapse. Patients with AUD and depression perceive that supportive text messages help them to remain abstinent from alcohol and also improve upon their mental wellbeing.