Efficacy Trial of Warrior Check-Up

Summary

This study will develop and test a brief telephone-delivered motivational enhancement intervention for substance abusing military personnel who are not currently in treatment. The hypotheses being tested are that this intervention will prompt a willingness to participate voluntarily in a self-appraisal of substance abuse behavior and consequences, self-initiated change or enrollment in a treatment or self-help program, and cessation of abuse of alcohol or other drugs.

Conditions

• Alcohol Abuse
• Alcohol Dependence
• Substance Abuse
• Substance Dependence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Motivational Enhancement Therapy

MET, a 30-60 minute telephone session, seeks to increase motivation for change by highlighting inconsistencies between substance use behaviors and beliefs and negative consequences experienced as a result of the behaviors. The counselor will guide the participant in reviewing the Personal Feedback Report (PFR), using MI strategies to elicit the participant's reactions and foster motivation for change. The PFR will show the participant's self-reported alcohol and drug use behavior, consequences of SA, and the participant's perceived and actual descriptive norms for SA behavior. The second phase will target strengthening commitment to change. Counselors will explore with participants the pros and cons of seeking treatment. As the participant verbalizes potential benefits of learning more about treatment, the counselor will use MI skills to encourage elaboration of his/her thinking with the goal of tipping the scale toward a decision to consider taking steps toward treatment.

BEHAVIORAL

Education

Participants will receive educational information on the health, psychological, social, and legal consequences of substance abuse. Included in the session will be: legal and behavioral definitions of SA, the social and legal consequences of SA, impact of SA on military duty, a review of the policies on substance use in the military, and treatment resources. The session will be conducted via the telephone and will last from 30-60 minutes. Counselors will present information in a didactic manner and will avoid the use of Motivational Interviewing skills (reflective listening, developing discrepancy, reinforcing participant statements regarding change).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command

  collaborator FED

• University of Washington

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Denise D Walker, PhD · University of Washington School of Social Work

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-10-31

Primary Completion

2014-09-30

Completion

2014-09-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations