Collaborative Care for Alcohol Use Disorders in the Patient-centered Medical Home

The purpose of this research study is to develop and test a care model to treat excessive drinking and alcohol use disorders in the primary care setting. The goal of this research study is to increase the identification and treatment of problem drinking in the primary care setting. Individuals will be asked to participate in this study because routine screening and assessment conducted at your primary care clinic indicates that you have recently exceeded healthy drinking limits as outlined by the National Institutes of Alcohol and Alcoholism.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Alcohol Use Disorders; Alcohol Abuse
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Brief Advice; Behavioral: Motivation Enhancement Therapy; Drug: Naltrexone; Behavioral: Modified Behavioral Self-Control Therapy; Other: Referral to specialty substance use disorder treatment

Detailed Description

Excessive drinking (ED) and alcohol use disorders (AUD) remain one of the nation's leading public health problems, yet this problem is largely under-recognized and undertreated. Although many people with ED/AUD see a primary care physician annually, there has been limited research and implementation of models to treat ED/AUD in primary care. Important changes in the healthcare system and advances in alcohol research offer new and potentially transformative opportunities to integrate ED/AUD treatment into primary care practices. In particular, these changes have led to the development of new patient-centered, integrated care models that facilitate the treatment behavioral health issues in primary care. Experts have repeatedly called for the development of a chronic care model to treat alcohol problems in primary care, similar to models now used to treat other chronic illnesses, including depression. Yet, research to develop and test such models has been surprisingly limited. The primary aim of this study is to develop and test a chronic care model to treat ED/AUD in the patient-centered model home (PCMH) using the NIH stage model of intervention development. Specifically, using a mixed methods approach, this study proposes to adapt and test the collaborative care (CC) model for depression to treat ED/AUD in a high volume PCMH. Importantly, we will build the CC model onto a Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program that is already in place in the PCMH. Notably, this SBIRT model currently refers those with ED/AUD out to specialty treatment providers. The proposed study will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will involve initial adaptation of the CC model for depression. During this phase, relevant depression CC protocols and measures will be adapted for ED/AUD and piloted tested on participants (n = 25) recruited in a PCMH. Phase II will involve model refinement based on iterative cycles of patient and PCMH staff feedback and examination of drinking outcome data. During this phase, participants (n = 60) will be assessed and followed for three months. Iterative development will focus on: 1) utilizing a stepped-care model of treatment which will include outpatient detoxification, behavioral interventions, and medication intervention and management, 2) maximizing patient engagement, and 3) balancing the resource and expertise constraints of treating ED/AUD in a PCMH. Participants in Phases 1 and 2 will be followed at 1 and 3 months and primary outcome data on drinking outcomes will be examined.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 27
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • Great Neck, New York, United States, 11021
      • Northwell Health

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Exceed NIAAA weekly or daily guidelines
• receive care at the 865 clinic
• are fluent in English
• are willing to provide signed, informed consent to participate
• available to complete research follow-ups
• are able to read English at the eighth grade or higher level and show no evidence of significant cognitive impairment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Meet DSM-V criteria for drug dependence other than for marijuana or nicotine
• on probation or parole
• have a serious psychiatric illness (e.g., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, severe major depression, etc.) that is likely to require pharmacologic treatment or that is currently treated with psychotropic medication; organic mood or mental disorders, or substantial suicide or violence risk

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: At-Risk Drinkers (AR); AR will receive feedback about their drinking and brief advice along with follow up assessments.	Behavioral: Brief Advice; Brief Advice (BA) consists of a 20-minute session delivered by a study therapist, adhering to the NIAAA's Clinician Guide to Problem Drinkers. It includes personalized, normative feedback based on NIAAA drinking norms, goal selection, instructions on self-monitoring, discussion of drink reduction strategies, and distribution of the NIAAA bibliotherapy guide.; Other Names: BA
Other: Problem Drinkers (PD); PD will be offered a choice of either an evidence-based behavioral intervention(Motivational Enhancement Therapy) or medication (Naltrexone) plus medication management. These participants will also receive follow up assessments.	Behavioral: Brief Advice; Brief Advice (BA) consists of a 20-minute session delivered by a study therapist, adhering to the NIAAA's Clinician Guide to Problem Drinkers. It includes personalized, normative feedback based on NIAAA drinking norms, goal selection, instructions on self-monitoring, discussion of drink reduction strategies, and distribution of the NIAAA bibliotherapy guide.; Other Names: BA; Behavioral: Motivation Enhancement Therapy; Motivation Enhancement Therapy (MET) similarly allows for goal choice in treatment, and has been shown to be effective in treating a broad spectrum of drinking problems in both abstinent and non-abstinent goal conditions. The unique goals of MET (enhancing intrinsic motivation for change and facilitating development of a self-generated change plan).; Other Names: MET; Drug: Naltrexone; Participants, who choose medication treatment, will be offered naltrexone (50 mg per day), which is an FDA-Approved medication for alcohol use disorder. According to the package insert for NTX, the medication has been associated with liver toxicity at very high doses (up to 300 mg/day); however, a number of clinical trials and published studies suggest there are few serious adverse effects, including minimal hepatotoxicity, associated with daily dose of 50 mg of naltrexone. Its most common side effects in opioid-free individuals are nausea, vomiting, anxiety, headache, abdominal discomfort, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability, and decreased appetite. A rare serious adverse effect may include minimal liver toxicity, but is more likely to occur at very high doses (300 mg/day).; Other Names: NTX
Other: AD with physiological withdrawal (AD-W); AD-W will referred to outpatient detoxification as part of standard care, unless medically contraindicated, and will be offered medication (naltrexone) plus medication management as or an evidence-based behavioral intervention (Modified Behavioral Self-Control Therapy [MBSCT]) adapted from our two prior protocols. These participants will also receive follow up assessments.	Behavioral: Brief Advice; Brief Advice (BA) consists of a 20-minute session delivered by a study therapist, adhering to the NIAAA's Clinician Guide to Problem Drinkers. It includes personalized, normative feedback based on NIAAA drinking norms, goal selection, instructions on self-monitoring, discussion of drink reduction strategies, and distribution of the NIAAA bibliotherapy guide.; Other Names: BA; Drug: Naltrexone; Participants, who choose medication treatment, will be offered naltrexone (50 mg per day), which is an FDA-Approved medication for alcohol use disorder. According to the package insert for NTX, the medication has been associated with liver toxicity at very high doses (up to 300 mg/day); however, a number of clinical trials and published studies suggest there are few serious adverse effects, including minimal hepatotoxicity, associated with daily dose of 50 mg of naltrexone. Its most common side effects in opioid-free individuals are nausea, vomiting, anxiety, headache, abdominal discomfort, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, irritability, and decreased appetite. A rare serious adverse effect may include minimal liver toxicity, but is more likely to occur at very high doses (300 mg/day).; Other Names: NTX; Behavioral: Modified Behavioral Self-Control Therapy; Motivational Interviewing was developed to increase self-efficacy and motivation for drinking, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy allows for individuals to develop strategies for drinking reduction. Both are evidence-based interventions that have been combined in previous studies for drinking reduction in problem drinkers.; Other Names: MBSCT
Other: AD with complex presentation (AD-CMPLX); AD-CMPLX will receive a referral to specialty substance use disorder treatment and also receive follow up assessments.	Behavioral: Brief Advice; Brief Advice (BA) consists of a 20-minute session delivered by a study therapist, adhering to the NIAAA's Clinician Guide to Problem Drinkers. It includes personalized, normative feedback based on NIAAA drinking norms, goal selection, instructions on self-monitoring, discussion of drink reduction strategies, and distribution of the NIAAA bibliotherapy guide.; Other Names: BA; Other: Referral to specialty substance use disorder treatment; Participants who present with complex drinking concerns will be referred to specialty substance use disorder treatment. This treatment will be provided in a separate treatment facility that focuses on substance use disorders and will potentially provide a combination of medication management and individual/group behavioral treatment for substance use disorders.; Other Names: Referral

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Weekly Change in Drinking	We used to the Timeline Followback Interview to collect the average weekly number of standard drinks of alcohol (about 9 grams) consumed at baseline (8 weeks prior to study enrollment) and during the 12-week treatment period. The minimum score is zero. There is no maximum score. Higher negative scores reflect a greater reduction in drinking and better outcomes.	Baseline (8 weeks prior to study enrollment) and the 12-week treatment period

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwell Health
• Collaborators: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): October 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2016
• First Posted (Estimated): August 31, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 30, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Primary Care; Drinking; Alcohol use disorders; Excessive drinking
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Drinking Behavior; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcohol Drinking; Alcoholism; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Sensory System Agents; Narcotic Antagonists; Alcohol Deterrents; Naltrexone
• Other Study ID Numbers: 15-0743; R34AA024589 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

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: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No