This proposal is for a competitive renewal of R01 AA12827, Network and Contingency Management for Alcohol Treatment. This renewal is intended to extend our previous findings, and to explore the mechanisms of network support treatment. The overarching purpose of the Network Support Project is to determine if a treatment directed at changing the patient's social network, from one that reinforces drinking behavior to one that reinforces sobriety, can create the conditions necessary for long-term treatment success. Our initial study involved a Network Support treatment patterned after the 12-Step facilitation treatment used in Project MATCH. The initial study is at the end of the 2-year follow-up. Results indicated the following: Network Support conditions yielded better outcomes than a Case Management condition. Analyses of social network variables at posttreatment indicated that the NS conditions did not reduce social support for drinking relative to the CaseM condition, but did increase social support for abstinence, as well as AA involvement. Both the network support variables and AA involvement variables were significantly correlated with drinking outcomes. The findings indicate that drinkers'social networks can be changed by a treatment that is specifically designed to do so, and that these changes contribute to improved drinking outcomes. Certain other findings emerged, however. Despite our efforts, a large number of patients were never able to change their social networks, in part because of difficulty establishing social relationships (almost 30% had 2 or fewer abstinent friends throughout the 2 years of the study). The absence of a coping skills based control group leaves open the possibility that specific network building activities may not be needed (i.e., people may increase their sober social network just as a function of developing general skills). Finally, we do not know how changes in the social environment actually translate into outcomes. This study will address the issues raised in our first Network Support study. 160 patients will be assigned to one of two conditions. The first is a Network Support (NS) treatment enhanced with a social skills training component to help patients develop new acquaintances and social networks. This NS condition will be compared to a packaged CBT program for alcoholics (PCBT) that incorporates a number of relapse-prevention skills, but does not address social networks per se. In order to better understand the complex interpersonal influences of social networks on drinking and recovery after treatment, we will use daily process measurement via interactive voice response (IVR) before and after treatment. Recorded each day will be drinking, craving for alcohol, mood state, coping responses and a number of questions characterizing the person's social contacts for that day. IVR recordings will be also be made three times per week by patients during treatment to record performance of skills practice assignments (homework). The IVR data will be used to determine what changes patients in treatment make in their thoughts, feelings and coping behaviors. Results are thus expected to show how social networks may operate to support long-term abstinence.

Public Health Relevance

Public Health Relevance Relapse after treatment is a serious issue for alcoholic patients, and for society. A treatment program that helps the patient change his or her social network from one that reinforces drinking behavior to one that reinforces sobriety can create the conditions necessary for long-term treatment success.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA012827-09
Application #
8322554
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAA1-BB (03))
Program Officer
Lowman, Cherry
Project Start
2002-03-01
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2012-09-01
Budget End
2013-08-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$599,881
Indirect Cost
$210,348
Name
University of Connecticut
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry
DUNS #
022254226
City
Farmington
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06030
Litt, Mark D; Kadden, Ronald M; Tennen, Howard (2018) Treatment response and non-response in CBT and Network Support for alcohol disorders: targeted mechanisms and common factors. Addiction 113:1407-1417
Litt, Mark D; Kadden, Ronald M; Tennen, Howard et al. (2016) Network Support II: Randomized controlled trial of Network Support treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy for alcohol use disorder. Drug Alcohol Depend 165:203-12
Litt, Mark D; Kadden, Ronald M; Tennen, Howard (2015) Network Support treatment for alcohol dependence: gender differences in treatment mechanisms and outcomes. Addict Behav 45:87-92
Haut, Sheryl R; Hall, Charles B; Borkowski, Thomas et al. (2013) Modeling seizure self-prediction: an e-diary study. Epilepsia 54:1960-7
Kadden, Ronald M; Litt, Mark D (2011) The role of self-efficacy in the treatment of substance use disorders. Addict Behav 36:1120-6
Litt, Mark D; Kadden, Ronald M; Kabela-Cormier, Elise et al. (2009) Changing network support for drinking: network support project 2-year follow-up. J Consult Clin Psychol 77:229-42
Litt, Mark D; Kadden, Ronald M; Kabela-Cormier, Elise (2009) Individualized assessment and treatment program for alcohol dependence: results of an initial study to train coping skills. Addiction 104:1837-8
Litt, Mark D; Kadden, Ronald M; Kabela-Cormier, Elise et al. (2007) Changing network support for drinking: initial findings from the network support project. J Consult Clin Psychol 75:542-55