Imaginal retraining reduces alcohol craving in problem drinkers: A randomized controlled trial
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Imaginal retraining reduces alcohol craving in problem drinkers: A randomized controlled trial. / Moritz, Steffen; Paulus, Alia Marie; Hottenrott, Birgit; Weierstall, Roland; Gallinat, Jürgen; Kühn, Simone.
In: J BEHAV THER EXP PSY, Vol. 64, 09.2019, p. 158-166.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Imaginal retraining reduces alcohol craving in problem drinkers: A randomized controlled trial
AU - Moritz, Steffen
AU - Paulus, Alia Marie
AU - Hottenrott, Birgit
AU - Weierstall, Roland
AU - Gallinat, Jürgen
AU - Kühn, Simone
N1 - Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2019/9
Y1 - 2019/9
N2 - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Retraining, a psychological intervention derived from the approach-avoidance paradigm, has yielded mixed results for the treatment of alcohol use disorder as well as other forms of addiction. The present study investigated the efficacy of an imaginal variant of retraining that allowed greater personalization of the content.METHODS: Within the framework of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 84 individuals with self-reported alcohol-related problems were recruited over the Internet and allocated to either imaginal retraining (treatment manual dispatched as a pdf-file via email) or a wait-list control group (with care-as-usual). The intervention period was four weeks. Alcohol craving, as measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS), served as the primary outcome. Other emotional (e.g. self-esteem) and drinking-related variables served as secondary outcomes.RESULTS: Both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses showed that imaginal retraining led to a significant reduction in alcohol craving compared to the control group at a large effect size. Self-esteem improved in the retraining condition relative to controls in the PP and one of the ITT analyses; 75% of the individuals in the treatment group reported less alcohol consumption in the treatment period, whereas drinking behavior remained essentially unchanged in the control group (p < .001) (the trial was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00015319).LIMITATIONS: Whether the effects of imaginal retraining are sustained over time needs to be established. Attrition was significantly higher in the retraining group (40.5%) than in the control group (16.7%). Designs with an active control condition are needed as well as dismantling studies to explore which of the treatment's multiple components best predicts improvement. Future studies should verify participants' alcohol consumption levels using objective measures.CONCLUSION: Imaginal retraining led to significant effects on the reduction of alcohol craving.
AB - BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Retraining, a psychological intervention derived from the approach-avoidance paradigm, has yielded mixed results for the treatment of alcohol use disorder as well as other forms of addiction. The present study investigated the efficacy of an imaginal variant of retraining that allowed greater personalization of the content.METHODS: Within the framework of a randomized controlled trial (RCT), 84 individuals with self-reported alcohol-related problems were recruited over the Internet and allocated to either imaginal retraining (treatment manual dispatched as a pdf-file via email) or a wait-list control group (with care-as-usual). The intervention period was four weeks. Alcohol craving, as measured with a visual analogue scale (VAS), served as the primary outcome. Other emotional (e.g. self-esteem) and drinking-related variables served as secondary outcomes.RESULTS: Both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses showed that imaginal retraining led to a significant reduction in alcohol craving compared to the control group at a large effect size. Self-esteem improved in the retraining condition relative to controls in the PP and one of the ITT analyses; 75% of the individuals in the treatment group reported less alcohol consumption in the treatment period, whereas drinking behavior remained essentially unchanged in the control group (p < .001) (the trial was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00015319).LIMITATIONS: Whether the effects of imaginal retraining are sustained over time needs to be established. Attrition was significantly higher in the retraining group (40.5%) than in the control group (16.7%). Designs with an active control condition are needed as well as dismantling studies to explore which of the treatment's multiple components best predicts improvement. Future studies should verify participants' alcohol consumption levels using objective measures.CONCLUSION: Imaginal retraining led to significant effects on the reduction of alcohol craving.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.04.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jbtep.2019.04.001
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 31071483
VL - 64
SP - 158
EP - 166
JO - J BEHAV THER EXP PSY
JF - J BEHAV THER EXP PSY
SN - 0005-7916
ER -
