Anonymous Treatment on the Internet for Alcohol Dependence: A Randomised, Controlled Trial

Internet Based Treatment for Alcohol Dependence Among Anonymous Help Seekers on the Internet : A Randomized Controlled Trial

Internet based self help program with or without support of a counselor is tested among anonymous Internet help seekers at an open access website.

A 5 module Internet based self help program based on motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy is tested among anonymous Internet help seekers.The design is a three armed randomized controlled study, and outcomes are measured in terms of changes in alcohol consumption, problematic alcohol use, alcohol dependence alcohol use disorder, anxiety, as well as depression and quality of life. 2400 participants are recruited entirely online from an open access website. Consenting participants will be randomized into one of three groups: 1.Internet based self help program with counselor support, 2.Internet based self help program without counselor support or 3. Information about the open access websites resources: information on alcohol and health, where you can find treatment and a online discussion forum. Follow-up will be conducted online after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months in all three groups.

eChange Alkoholhjälpen is an internet based self help program consisting of 5 modules. Patients will have access to Alkoholhjälpen counselor support through secure comments at every module they complete.

Brief information on resources that can be accessed through the open access website Alkoholhjälpen: Information on alcohol and health, where and how to find treatment and an internet discussion forum.

Users will have access to counselor support through secure comments at the end of every module they complete in the self help program.

A swedish, open access website that includes information on alcohol, on how to find treatment and an internet discussion forum

Alcohol Use Identification Test (AUDIT) (Change in total AUDIT score, as a summarized measure of alcohol use)

Change in total AUDIT score, as a summarized measure of alcohol use (including alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems)

Questions about help-seeking behavior (Change in help-seeking for alcohol related problems from family and friends)

Scores between 0 and 100. In this study, "I am not ready to change my drinking habits" and "I am very much ready to change my drinking habits".

Use of Internet based program and website (Number of visits and number of completed exercises in the Internet based program and website)

Working alliance with internet based intervention (eSRS) (4 scale questions on the users alliance with the internet based intervention )

4 scale questions on the users alliance with the internet based intervention (program and/or website)

Inclusion Criteria: AUDIT-score >16 points and/or at least 3 criteria of alcohol dependence (ICD-10) Exclusion Criteria: Inadequate Swedish language skills No Internet access

Sinadinovic K, Wennberg P, Johansson M, Berman AH. Targeting individuals with problematic alcohol use via Web-based cognitive-behavioral self-help modules, personalized screening feedback or assessment only: a randomized controlled trial. Eur Addict Res. 2014;20(6):305-18. doi: 10.1159/000362406. Epub 2014 Oct 4.

Johansson M, Berman AH, Sinadinovic K, Lindner P, Hermansson U, Andreasson S. Effects of Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Harmful Alcohol Use and Alcohol Dependence as Self-help or With Therapist Guidance: Three-Armed Randomized Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Nov 24;23(11):e29666. doi: 10.2196/29666.