Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial

Background: Individuals with problematic alcohol use often face anxiety and depressive symptoms, which can hinder treatment engagement, compliance, and effectiveness. Psychosocial therapy through video conference (e-alcohol therapy) may reduce these barriers. We explored whether 1) anxiety or/and de...

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Main Authors: Kia Kejlskov Egan, Veronica Pisinger, Ulrik Becker, Janne Schurmann Tolstrup
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Addictive Behaviors Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853224000531
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author Kia Kejlskov Egan
Veronica Pisinger
Ulrik Becker
Janne Schurmann Tolstrup
author_facet Kia Kejlskov Egan
Veronica Pisinger
Ulrik Becker
Janne Schurmann Tolstrup
author_sort Kia Kejlskov Egan
collection DOAJ
description Background: Individuals with problematic alcohol use often face anxiety and depressive symptoms, which can hinder treatment engagement, compliance, and effectiveness. Psychosocial therapy through video conference (e-alcohol therapy) may reduce these barriers. We explored whether 1) anxiety or/and depressive symptoms modify the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy on treatment initiation, compliance, and alcohol intake, 2) proactive e-alcohol therapy impacts anxiety or/and depressive symptoms compared to standard care. Methods: Participants with problematic alcohol use were recruited online and randomly assigned to proactive e-alcohol therapy or standard care. Problematic alcohol use was defined by an 8+ score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Results: 356 individuals participated; 133 showed moderate-severe symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline. There were no significant differences between individuals with and without moderate-severe anxiety or/and depressive symptoms in the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy versus standard care on treatment initiation (3 mo: p = 0.64; 12 mo: p = 0.97), compliance (3 mo: p = 0.40; 12 mo: p = 0.58), or alcohol intake (3 mo: p = 0.86; 12 mo: p = 0.90). No significant differences were found in the proportion of participants with moderate-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms between the two intervention groups after 3 months (OR 0.6; 95 % CI 0.3 to 1.4; p = 0.27). Conclusions: We found no evidence that anxiety or/and depressive symptoms modify the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy on treatment initiation, compliance, or alcohol intake. Proactive e-alcohol therapy matched standard care in reducing anxiety or/and depressive symptoms over a 3-month follow-up.
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spelling doaj-art-b7c53545be15412499798c2ff9f9b7622025-08-20T02:34:39ZengElsevierAddictive Behaviors Reports2352-85322025-06-012110057610.1016/j.abrep.2024.100576Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trialKia Kejlskov Egan0Veronica Pisinger1Ulrik Becker2Janne Schurmann Tolstrup3National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkNational Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkNational Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-1455 Copenhagen, DenmarkNational Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, DK-1455 Copenhagen, Denmark; Corresponding author at: National Institute of Public Health, Studiestræde 6, DK-1455 Copenhagen, Denmark.Background: Individuals with problematic alcohol use often face anxiety and depressive symptoms, which can hinder treatment engagement, compliance, and effectiveness. Psychosocial therapy through video conference (e-alcohol therapy) may reduce these barriers. We explored whether 1) anxiety or/and depressive symptoms modify the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy on treatment initiation, compliance, and alcohol intake, 2) proactive e-alcohol therapy impacts anxiety or/and depressive symptoms compared to standard care. Methods: Participants with problematic alcohol use were recruited online and randomly assigned to proactive e-alcohol therapy or standard care. Problematic alcohol use was defined by an 8+ score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. Results: 356 individuals participated; 133 showed moderate-severe symptoms of anxiety and depression at baseline. There were no significant differences between individuals with and without moderate-severe anxiety or/and depressive symptoms in the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy versus standard care on treatment initiation (3 mo: p = 0.64; 12 mo: p = 0.97), compliance (3 mo: p = 0.40; 12 mo: p = 0.58), or alcohol intake (3 mo: p = 0.86; 12 mo: p = 0.90). No significant differences were found in the proportion of participants with moderate-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms between the two intervention groups after 3 months (OR 0.6; 95 % CI 0.3 to 1.4; p = 0.27). Conclusions: We found no evidence that anxiety or/and depressive symptoms modify the effect of proactive e-alcohol therapy on treatment initiation, compliance, or alcohol intake. Proactive e-alcohol therapy matched standard care in reducing anxiety or/and depressive symptoms over a 3-month follow-up.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853224000531AlcoholAlcohol treatmentAnxiety and depressive symptomsComorbidityE-healthOnline
spellingShingle Kia Kejlskov Egan
Veronica Pisinger
Ulrik Becker
Janne Schurmann Tolstrup
Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
Addictive Behaviors Reports
Alcohol
Alcohol treatment
Anxiety and depressive symptoms
Comorbidity
E-health
Online
title Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
title_full Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
title_fullStr Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
title_short Exploring the relationship between proactive e-alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or/and depression: Post-hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
title_sort exploring the relationship between proactive e alcohol therapy and symptoms of anxiety or and depression post hoc analyses from a randomized controlled trial
topic Alcohol
Alcohol treatment
Anxiety and depressive symptoms
Comorbidity
E-health
Online
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853224000531
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