Six-months outcomes of a randomised trial of supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use...

We have previously reported that supportive text messages delivered twice daily for three months have the potential to provide personalised support for patients with depression and co-morbid Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). In this study we report the six months outcomes.

Participants (n=54) with a DSM IV diagnosis of unipolar depression and AUD who completed an in-patient dual diagnosis treatment programme were randomised to receive daily twice supportive text messages (n=26) or a fortnightly thank you text message (n=28) for three months. Primary outcome measures at six months were Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) scores and Cumulative Abstinence Duration (CAD).

NCT0137868.

Unlike at three months, there was no statistically significant difference in six months BDI-II scores between the intervention (n=24) and control (n=24) groups; 13.28 (SD=8.7) vs. 15.08 (SD=11.37) respectively after adjusting for the baseline scores, F (1, 45)=0.192, p=0.66. There was also no significant difference in CAD between the text message group and the control group: 84.14 days (9.20) vs. 74.73 days (28.97), t=1.422, df=41, p=0.16. However, patients in the intervention group had significantly higher days to first drink compared to those in the control group: 119.9 (47.7) vs. 62.4 (44.9), t=2.99, df=22, p=0.01.

Limitations of the study include the small sample size and the potential for loss of rater blinding.

The effects of supportive text message intervention were not sustained beyond the period that the patients were receiving the intervention.