The Association Between Loneliness and Substance Use

Opioid Use Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Association Between Loneliness and Substance Use

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04938492
• Other study ID #: STUDY00005387
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: August 12, 2021
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: August 2023
• Source: University of Rochester
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The proposed study will determine if cognitive behavioral therapy will help improve loneliness in people who use opioids.

Description:

The proposed study will be the first to assess the cognitive, affective, and behavioral pathways by which loneliness impacts opioid use. Individuals with an opioid use disorder (OUD) reporting loneliness will be randomized to either a 6-session Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy for loneliness (CBT-L) or a 6-session education control condition, both delivered via telehealth. Telehealth delivery can be easily implemented and can increase reach and access to individuals not engaged in treatment. We will use an established brief CBT manual to address loneliness. We will assess loneliness, negative affect (i.e., depression and anxiety), and the quality and quantity of social interactions prior to, during, and after the intervention to evaluate the subsequent impact on opioid use trajectories. Participant will complete questionnaires pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 1- and 2-months posttreatment.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 125
• Est. completion date: July 1, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: July 1, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Must be ages 18+
• Understand English
• Have internet access
• Screen positive for an active OUD on the OUD Module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Research Version (SCID-5-RV)
• Screen positive for loneliness by scoring at least a T-score > 60 on the NIH Toolbox Loneliness Scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• Consistent with previously used telehealth-delivered assessments, we will exclude any participant with cognitive impairment as measured by the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC)
• Potential participants who are in the process of detoxifying as measured by the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale will also be excluded

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Loneliness
• Opioid Use
• Substance-Related Disorders

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for loneliness (CBT-L)
6 sessions focused on addressing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that maintain feeling alone as a way to reduce loneliness and substance use.
• Physical Health Education Training (PHET)
Health education provides information on the importance and benefits of and guidelines for living a healthy lifestyle.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Rochester Medical Center	Rochester	New York

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Rochester	National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Mean change in loneliness	Loneliness will be measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. A 20-item scale designed to measure one's subjective feelings of loneliness as well as feelings of social isolation. Participants rate each item as 1 (never), 2 (rarely), 3 (sometimes) or 4 (often). The scores range from 20-80 with higher scores indicating worse outcome.	baseline to 2 months
Secondary	Mean change in number of days of opioid use	Participants will complete a calendar indicating the type and frequency of drug use.	baseline to 2 months
Secondary	Mean change in percent days abstinent	Participants will complete a calendar indicating the type and frequency of drug use.	baseline to 2 months
Secondary	Mean change in social interactions	Duke Social Support Index assesses several domains of perceived social support, including social network size, social interaction, social satisfaction, and instrumental social support. Higher scores indicate a higher quality of social interactions. Scores range from 0 to 37.	baseline to 2 months
Secondary	Mean change in depression	Depression will be measured using the PROMIS tool. The scores range from 4-20 with higher scores indicating worse outcome.	baseline to 2 months
Secondary	Mean change in anxiety	Anxiety will be measured using the PROMIS tool. The scores range from 4-20 with higher scores indicating worse outcome.	baseline to 2 months