Validating an Autonomous Interactive Internet-Based Delivery of an Empirically Supported Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Comorbidity

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · Nov 1, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring a new way to deliver cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) through a computer program to help people who have both alcohol use disorder and anxiety disorders like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or social anxiety disorder. The aim is to see if this online therapy can improve treatment outcomes for individuals who may not respond well to traditional therapy methods. If successful, this approach could make it easier and cheaper for many more people to access effective treatment.

To participate in this study, individuals need to be aged 18 to 75, currently diagnosed with one of the specified anxiety disorders, and receiving treatment for alcohol dependence. They must also be living in a specific addiction treatment program called Lodging Plus and have enough time remaining in their care to complete the study. Participants will engage with the computer-based therapy, and their progress will be monitored throughout the study. It's important to note that individuals with certain medical or cognitive impairments, serious suicide risk, or those involved in court-ordered treatment cannot join the study.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • current (past 30 days) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) diagnosis of panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PD/Ag), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD)
• • receiving treatment primarily for alcohol (vs. drug) dependence
• • ability to provide informed consent
• • a minimum of an eighth grade English reading level
• • status as a residential patient in the Lodging Plus (LP) addiction treatment program
• • sufficient time left in their residential LP care to complete the study protocol through the post-treatment assessment
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • cognitive or medical impairments that prohibit study participation as determined by study PI
• • serious suicide risk determined by study PI
• • court-ordered treatment. (The exclusion is based on its classification as a "vulnerable" population.)
• • Self-reported past participation in a Kushner intervention study while in Lodging Plus