Transplant and Addiction Project (TAP) - 1

The purpose of this study is to test a novel distance-based (telephone) intervention to help transplant candidates with current or recent substance abuse to stay "clean and sober" both prior and following transplant surgery.

Participants who need a liver or renal transplant and who are ineligible due to current or recent (past 6 months) alcohol and/or other drug abuse are being recruited from the transplant programs at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center (renal), Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (renal/liver) and Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center (liver). Baseline and follow-up computer-assisted assessments and structured clinical interviews along with collection of biological samples (urine, hair) will occur in the transplant clinics; however, phone counseling sessions originate at St. Luke's. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatments: (1) usual care (no phone counseling) or (2) usual care + counseling. The telephone counseling sessions are designed to help participants become motivated to remain abstinent and improve other health behaviors such as sleep or stress management.

The usual care group will receive the same medical services they would otherwise receive if they were not in this study.

Inclusion Criteria: End stage liver or renal disease Having used drugs or alcohol during the past 6 months Turned down for transplant due to current or recent substance use Access to telephone Exclusion Criteria: Psychotic or other unstable serious psychiatric disorders that preclude full, active participation Moderate to severe hepatic encephalopathy Non-English speaking

Wagner CC, Haller DL, Olbrisch ME. Relapse prevention treatment for liver transplant patients. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 1996 Dec;3(4):387-98. doi: 10.1007/BF01994021.

Presented at the Ninth Annual International Liver Transplantation Society Congress, Barcelona, Spain, June 2003.