Journaling and Addiction Recovery: Piloting "Positive Recovery Journaling" (PPJ)

May 29, 2024 updated by: University of Minnesota
The main objective of this study is to pilot test the Positive Peer Journaling (PPJ) [later renamed "Positive Recovery Journaling" (PRJ)] intervention and its feasibility and acceptability. A second objective is to compare individuals assigned to PPJ to individuals in a treatment as usual control group.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Many spiritual and religious traditions involve the practice of personal inventory and self-examination. These practices involve conducting a review of the day, spirituality, gratitude, and striving for self-knowledge and self-improvement. The 10th step of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) recommends that members conduct such a daily inventory. While this practice may benefit AA members, not everyone seeking addiction recovery joins AA. Even for those who do, it can take time to reach step 10 and begin deriving benefits from it. The study PI, Dr. Amy Krentzman, developed Positive Recovery Journaling (PRJ, formerly "positive peer journaling") as a simple 10-minute daily practice which reviews the past 24 hours on the left side of a journal page and plans the upcoming 24 hours on the right side of a journal page. The prompts for the left and right sides of the PRJ page are based on principles from positive psychology and behavioral activation.

The main objective of this study is to pilot test the PRJ intervention and to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and logistics of treatment delivery.

A second objective is to observe whether PRJ is associated with improvement in satisfaction with life, happiness with recovery, and commitment to sobriety

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
81

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55413
        • NUWAY

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • meet DSM-V criteria for past-year Substance Use Disorder as primary or secondary diagnosis,
  • English literacy sufficient to make short written lists needed to complete PPJ and homework assessments,
  • minimum 2 weeks sustained abstinence,
  • completed first 2 weeks of treatment at Nuway (approximately 2 weeks), an intensive outpatient substance use disorder treatment program and the recruitment site,
  • agree to be audio recorded or transcription recorded in group meetings and in individual meetings with research staff,
  • currently are clients in the Nuway outpatient program,
  • participants must be English speaking and literacy must be strong enough to write short lists and to understand the questions asked in the questionnaires,
  • participants must have an electronic device that connects to the internet and internet connection for online delivery of intervention during COVID-19.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • presence of a psychotic disorder, psychiatric condition (e.g., suicidal ideation), or cognitive impairment (e.g., severe dementia, traumatic brain injury) limiting ability to give consent and/or participate in the study;
  • severe psychiatric illness (current schizophrenia, major depression with suicidal ideation);
  • personality disorders that would interfere with satisfactory participation in or completion of the study protocol,
  • inability to give informed, voluntary consent to participate,
  • lack of sufficient English literacy to participate, defined as inability to make a list of 5 things they did yesterday and inability to understand questionnaire items,
  • any impairment, activity, or situation that in the judgement of the research staff would prevent satisfactory participation in or completion of the study protocol.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Treatment Group
Participants in this group will complete the intervention, Positive Peer Journaling (PPJ), while also continuing to attend intensive outpatient treatment for addiction.
Behavioral: Positive Peer Journaling (PPJ)
PPJ is a journaling practice to support addiction recovery. PPJ encourages past 24 hour review and upcoming 24 hour planning to improve subjective wellbeing in recovery and reduce relapse. PPJ uses journals with column headings under which individuals make bullet-pointed lists. On the left hand page, past 24 hours is recalled, itemizing "good" and "bad" things that happened and things for which one is grateful. Good wishes for others are also expressed on this page. On the right hand page, values-based activities for the upcoming 24 hours are planned via headings representing valued life domains such as "recovery," "work/school," "spirituality," "home and household," and "health."
No Intervention: Control Group
There will be no intervention for those randomized to the control group. However, they will complete assessment instruments throughout the study period while also continuing to attend intensive outpatient treatment for addiction.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Satisfaction With Life at Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Score on the "Satisfaction with Life" scale. This scale has 5 items assessed on a 7 point Likert-type response format. Scores range from 5 to 35 with higher scores representing higher satisfaction with life.
Baseline
Satisfaction With Life at 2 Weeks
Time Frame: 2 weeks (after Phase 1, the group phase)
Score on the "Satisfaction with Life" scale. This scale has 5 items assessed on a 7 point Likert-type response format. Scores range from 5 to 35 with higher scores representing higher satisfaction with life.
2 weeks (after Phase 1, the group phase)
Satisfaction With Life at 4 Weeks
Time Frame: 4 weeks (after Phase 2, the independent practice phase)
Score on the "Satisfaction with Life" scale. This scale has 5 items assessed on a 7 point Likert-type response format. Scores range from 5 to 35 with higher scores representing higher satisfaction with life.
4 weeks (after Phase 2, the independent practice phase)
Satisfaction With Life at 8 Weeks
Time Frame: 8 weeks (the 1-month post-intervention)
Score on the "Satisfaction with Life" scale. This scale has 5 items assessed on a 7 point Likert-type response format. Scores range from 5 to 35 with higher scores representing higher satisfaction with life.
8 weeks (the 1-month post-intervention)
Happiness With Recovery at Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Score on a single item, "In general, I am happy with my recovery." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores represent higher happiness with recovery.
Baseline
Happiness With Recovery at 2 Weeks
Time Frame: 2 weeks (after Phase 1, the group phase)
Score on a single item, "In general, I am happy with my recovery." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores represent higher happiness with recovery.
2 weeks (after Phase 1, the group phase)
Happiness With Recovery at 4 Weeks
Time Frame: 4 weeks (after Phase 2, the independent practice phase)
Score on a single item, "In general, I am happy with my recovery." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores represent higher happiness with recovery.
4 weeks (after Phase 2, the independent practice phase)
Happiness With Recovery at 8 Weeks
Time Frame: 8 weeks (the 1-month post intervention)
Score on a single item, "In general, I am happy with my recovery." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0 to 10. Higher scores represent higher happiness with recovery.
8 weeks (the 1-month post intervention)
Commitment to Sobriety at Baseline
Time Frame: Baseline
Score on a single item, "I am willing to do whatever it takes to recover from my addiction." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0-10. Higher scores represent greater commitment to sobriety.
Baseline
Commitment to Sobriety at 2 Weeks
Time Frame: 2 weeks (after Phase 1, the group phase)
Score on a single item, "I am willing to do whatever it takes to recover from my addiction." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0-10. Higher scores represent greater commitment to sobriety.
2 weeks (after Phase 1, the group phase)
Commitment to Sobriety at 4 Weeks
Time Frame: 4 weeks (after Phase 2, the independent practice phase)
Score on a single item, "I am willing to do whatever it takes to recover from my addiction." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0-10. Higher scores represent greater commitment to sobriety.
4 weeks (after Phase 2, the independent practice phase)
Commitment to Sobriety at 8 Weeks
Time Frame: 8 weeks (the 1-month post intervention)
Score on a single item, "I am willing to do whatever it takes to recover from my addiction." This item uses an 11 point scale ranging from 0-10. Higher scores represent greater commitment to sobriety.
8 weeks (the 1-month post intervention)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Minnesota

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Amy Krentzman, MSW, PhD, University of Minenesota

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 7, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 1, 2021

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 21, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 30, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 7, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 20, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 29, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00004619-2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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