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

Agyapong, Vincent and Milnes, Jennie and McLoughlin, Declan M and Farren, Conor Kevin (2013) Perception of patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages. Technology and Health Care, 21, (1), pp. 31-39. doi: 10.3233/THC-120707.


Background:
Very little is known about the perception of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages. 

Objective:
To examine the perception of patients with AUD and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages.
 
Methods:
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.
 
Results:
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.
 
Conclusions:
Patients with AUD and depression perceive that supportive text messages help them to remain abstinent from alcohol and also improve upon their mental wellbeing.
Item Type
Article
Publication Type
Irish-related, Article
Drug Type
Alcohol
Intervention Type
Harm reduction
Date
2013
Identification #
doi: 10.3233/THC-120707
Page Range
pp. 31-39
Publisher
IOS Press
Volume
21
Number
1
EndNote
View
Accession Number
HRB (Electronic Only)
Related (external) link
Subjects
B Substances > Alcohol
G Health and disease > State of health > Mental health
G Health and disease > Substance use disorder > Alcohol use disorder > Alcohol dependence
G Health and disease > Substance related disorder > Substance related mental health disorder
G Health and disease > Substance related disorder > Substance related mental health disorder > Dual diagnosis
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Health related issues > Health information and education
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Type of care > Mental health care (Psychiatry / Psychology)
N Communication, information and education > Information use and impact
N Communication, information and education > Digital technology
VA Geographic area > Europe > Ireland

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