Alcohol Abuse or Dependence clinical trials

Examination of Whether an Exercise Programme Reduces Alcohol Consumption Among Alcohol-Dependent Adults

This study is composed of two phases. Phase 1 will determine baseline demographic characteristics of participants, currently drinking harmful amounts of alcohol, who would be interested in an alternative treatment option to reduce alcohol consumption. Once baseline data is collected, participants will then be informed that the intervention is an exercise programme and those interested will be offered participation in Phase 2: a two-arm randomised controlled study. If eligible, participants will be randomly assigned to either: 1) a 12 week combined exercise programme and NHS standard care group, or 2) 12 weeks of NHS (National Health Service) standard care only group. The aims are to study the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial in this cohort and to determine the effectiveness of the exercise programme to reduce alcohol consumption, improve physical and mental health among people drinking harmful amounts of alcohol, compared to standard NHS care. Assessment visits, measuring alcohol consumption, mental health and physical health, will be conducted at baseline, and at Weeks 13, 24, 36 and 48 since commencement of the intervention period. Focus groups will take place during the 2nd and 12th week of the exercise programme where qualitative feedback on the exercise programme will be collected.