CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04943432Updated May 30, 2023Results posted

Open Trial of a Behavioral Activation Telepsychology Intervention for People Who Inject Drugs

An interventional study of Behavioral Activation in Intravenous Drug Usage, sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-05-30.

Sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
23
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The study has two aims: 1) To examine the feasibility and acceptability of administering a telepsychology Behavioral Activation (BA) treatment for substance use among non-treatment-seeking people who inject drugs (PWID); 2) To test the initial efficacy of the treatment from pretreatment to a 1-month follow-up on substance-related problems, readiness to change drug use, and BA. The intervention is hypothesized to be feasible and well-accepted, and within-subject analyses are hypothesized to demonstrate decreases in substance-related problems and increases in readiness to change drug use and BA from pretreatment to a 1-month follow-up.

The study aims to recruit N=25 non-treatment-seeking PWID from a syringe exchange program (estimated treated sample n=15). Participants will receive 8 sessions of BA over 4 weeks, and assessment of study outcome measures will occur at pretreatment, post-treatment, and a one-month follow-up.

02

Conditions studied

  • Intravenous Drug Usage

Keywords

  • People who inject drugs
  • Behavioral Activation
  • Telepsychology
  • Psychosocial Treatment
  • Harm Reduction
  • Low-threshold
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill is the lead sponsor of 1,340 studies on the registry; 133 are open to participants now.

Of its 155 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 136 (88%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Reports regular recent injection drug use (defined as injecting drugs on at least one day in the last week and injecting drugs for at least two months)
  • Can identify at least one goal or area of change to address during treatment
  • Has regular (at least twice weekly) access to an electronic device that can make phone or video calls and has access to the internet to complete online questionnaires

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Attending or on a wait list to receive psychosocial substance use treatment
  • \<5th grade reading level
  • Impairment due to active psychosis
  • Unable to give informed, voluntary, written consent to participate.
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
23 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    People who inject drugs

    People who inject drugs recruited from a needle exchange program who will participate in a psychosocial intervention

    Behavioral: Behavioral Activation

Interventions

  • BehavioralBehavioral Activation

    8 sessions of harm reduction-focused Behavioral Activation for Substance Use

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Behavioral Activation Assessed With Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) Score

    Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) total score; Scale range 0-150, higher scores indicate greater activation (positive outcome).

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  2. Change in Substance Use Problem Recognition Score Assessed With Recognition Subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) Score (Readiness to Change Drug Use)

    Outcome is subscale score on Recognition subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES); Range of 7-35, higher scores indicate greater problem recognition.

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  3. Change in Taking Steps to Change Substance Use Assessed With Taking Steps Subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) Score (Readiness to Change Drug Use)

    Outcome is subscale score on Taking Steps subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES); Range of 8-40, higher scores indicate greater steps to change (positive outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  4. Change in Substance-related Problems Assessed With Short Inventory of Problems - Alcohol and Drugs (SIP) Score

    Short Inventory of Problems - Alcohol and Drugs (SIP) total score; Scale range 0-45, higher scores indicate greater problems (negative outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  5. Treatment Attendance (Feasibility)

    Number of treatment sessions attended; Range 0-8; Higher number indicates greater attendance (positive outcome)

    Time frame: During the intervention, or up to 6 weeks after the pretreatment assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  6. Treatment Satisfaction Assessed With Client Satisfaction Questionnaire Score (Acceptability)

    Client Satisfaction Questionnaire; Scale range 8 to 32, higher scores indicate greater satisfaction (positive outcome)

    Time frame: At the Posttreatment assessment (T2), which occurs after treatment completion or a maximum of 8 weeks after the pretreatment assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  7. Therapeutic Alliance Assessed With Working Alliance Inventory Score (Acceptability)

    Outcome is mean of all items on Working Alliance Inventory; Range 1-5, higher scores indicate greater therapeutic alliance (positive outcome)

    Time frame: At the Posttreatment assessment (T2), which occurs after treatment completion or a maximum of 8 weeks after the pretreatment assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Depressive Symptoms Assessed With Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9 Depression) Score

    Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9 Depression); Scale range 0-27, higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms (negative outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  2. Change in Anxiety Symptoms Assessed With General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7 Anxiety) Score

    General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7 Anxiety); Scale range 0-21, higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptoms (negative outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  3. Change in HIV Risk Behaviors Assessed With HIV Risk Behavior Scale (HRBS) Score

    HIV Risk Behavior Scale (HRBS); Scale range 0-55, higher scores indicate greater HIV risk behavior (negative outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  4. Change in Substance Use Risk Assessed With Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) Score

    Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST); Scale range 0-44, higher scores indicate greater substance use risk (negative outcome)

    Time frame: from Pretreatment up to 2 months posttreatment

  5. Change in Substance Use Frequency Assessed With Timeline Followback (TLFB) Interview

    Percent days with any substance use, assessed via Timeline followback (TLFB) Interview; Range 0-100%, higher scores indicate greater substance use frequency (negative outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  6. Goal Attainment Assessed With Modified Goal Attainment Scale Score

    Modified Goal Attainment Scale; Range 0-5, higher scores indicate greater goal attainment (positive outcome)

    Time frame: During the intervention, or up to 6 weeks after the baseline assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

  7. Environmental Reward Assessed With Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) Score

    Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS); Scale range 10-40, higher scores indicate greater environmental reward (positive outcome)

    Time frame: pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

07

Results

Posted May 30, 2023

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestonePeople Who Inject Drugs
Started23
Received intervention19
Completed17
Not completed6

Outcome measures

PrimaryChange in Behavioral Activation Assessed With Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) Score

Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) total score; Scale range 0-150, higher scores indicate greater activation (positive outcome).

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Behavioral Activation Assessed With Behavioral Activation for Depression Scale (BADS) Score
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T177.00 ± 28.93
T286.75 ± 36.12
T369.67 ± 17.99
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.06
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = 0.68
PrimaryChange in Substance Use Problem Recognition Score Assessed With Recognition Subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) Score (Readiness to Change Drug Use)

Outcome is subscale score on Recognition subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES); Range of 7-35, higher scores indicate greater problem recognition.

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Substance Use Problem Recognition Score Assessed With Recognition Subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) Score (Readiness to Change Drug Use)
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T128.82 ± 4.80
T230.25 ± 4.04
T329.17 ± 4.44
PrimaryChange in Taking Steps to Change Substance Use Assessed With Taking Steps Subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) Score (Readiness to Change Drug Use)

Outcome is subscale score on Taking Steps subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES); Range of 8-40, higher scores indicate greater steps to change (positive outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Taking Steps to Change Substance Use Assessed With Taking Steps Subscale of Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) Score (Readiness to Change Drug Use)
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T126.28 ± 6.77
T232.62 ± 6.39
T329.91 ± 6.60
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .01
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .32
PrimaryChange in Substance-related Problems Assessed With Short Inventory of Problems - Alcohol and Drugs (SIP) Score

Short Inventory of Problems - Alcohol and Drugs (SIP) total score; Scale range 0-45, higher scores indicate greater problems (negative outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Substance-related Problems Assessed With Short Inventory of Problems - Alcohol and Drugs (SIP) Score
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T122.92 ± 11.90
T222.08 ± 12.55
T333.34 ± 11.22
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .44
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .007
PrimaryTreatment Attendance (Feasibility)

Number of treatment sessions attended; Range 0-8; Higher number indicates greater attendance (positive outcome)

Time frame:
During the intervention, or up to 6 weeks after the pretreatment assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · Treatment sessions attended
Treatment Attendance (Feasibility)
Treatment sessions attendedPeople Who Inject Drugs
All participants4.5 ± 3.4
Participants who attended at least one session5.5 ± 2.9
PrimaryTreatment Satisfaction Assessed With Client Satisfaction Questionnaire Score (Acceptability)

Client Satisfaction Questionnaire; Scale range 8 to 32, higher scores indicate greater satisfaction (positive outcome)

Time frame:
At the Posttreatment assessment (T2), which occurs after treatment completion or a maximum of 8 weeks after the pretreatment assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Treatment Satisfaction Assessed With Client Satisfaction Questionnaire Score (Acceptability)
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
Treatment Satisfaction Assessed With Client Satisfaction Questionnaire Score (Acceptability)28.9 ± 3.0
PrimaryTherapeutic Alliance Assessed With Working Alliance Inventory Score (Acceptability)

Outcome is mean of all items on Working Alliance Inventory; Range 1-5, higher scores indicate greater therapeutic alliance (positive outcome)

Time frame:
At the Posttreatment assessment (T2), which occurs after treatment completion or a maximum of 8 weeks after the pretreatment assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Therapeutic Alliance Assessed With Working Alliance Inventory Score (Acceptability)
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
Therapeutic Alliance Assessed With Working Alliance Inventory Score (Acceptability)4.5 ± 0.5
SecondaryChange in Depressive Symptoms Assessed With Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9 Depression) Score

Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9 Depression); Scale range 0-27, higher scores indicate greater depressive symptoms (negative outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Depressive Symptoms Assessed With Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9 Depression) Score
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T114.17 ± 9.54
T211.73 ± 9.37
T315.14 ± 8.07
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .01
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .11
SecondaryChange in Anxiety Symptoms Assessed With General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7 Anxiety) Score

General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7 Anxiety); Scale range 0-21, higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptoms (negative outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in Anxiety Symptoms Assessed With General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7 Anxiety) Score
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T110.14 ± 7.46
T211.31 ± 6.86
T311.22 ± 7.56
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .82
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .36
SecondaryChange in HIV Risk Behaviors Assessed With HIV Risk Behavior Scale (HRBS) Score

HIV Risk Behavior Scale (HRBS); Scale range 0-55, higher scores indicate greater HIV risk behavior (negative outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Change in HIV Risk Behaviors Assessed With HIV Risk Behavior Scale (HRBS) Score
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T116.61 ± 6.20
T213.25 ± 7.78
T38.00 ± 5.52
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .34
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .02
SecondaryChange in Substance Use Risk Assessed With Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) Score

Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST); Scale range 0-44, higher scores indicate greater substance use risk (negative outcome)

Time frame:
from Pretreatment up to 2 months posttreatment

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

SecondaryChange in Substance Use Frequency Assessed With Timeline Followback (TLFB) Interview

Percent days with any substance use, assessed via Timeline followback (TLFB) Interview; Range 0-100%, higher scores indicate greater substance use frequency (negative outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · percentage of days
Change in Substance Use Frequency Assessed With Timeline Followback (TLFB) Interview
percentage of daysPeople Who Inject Drugs
T195.46 ± 8.27
T285.28 ± 27.47
T385.13 ± 31.59
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .14
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .29
SecondaryGoal Attainment Assessed With Modified Goal Attainment Scale Score

Modified Goal Attainment Scale; Range 0-5, higher scores indicate greater goal attainment (positive outcome)

Time frame:
During the intervention, or up to 6 weeks after the baseline assessment, where average treatment duration was 4 weeks

No measurements were reported for this outcome.

SecondaryEnvironmental Reward Assessed With Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) Score

Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS); Scale range 10-40, higher scores indicate greater environmental reward (positive outcome)

Time frame:
pretreatment (T1), immediately after (or up to 2 weeks after) treatment completion (T2), and 1 month (or up to 2 months) posttreatment (T3), where average treatment duration was 4 weeks
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Environmental Reward Assessed With Environmental Reward Observation Scale (EROS) Score
score on a scalePeople Who Inject Drugs
T122.50 ± 6.52
T228.0 ± 5.79
T322.80 ± 6.53
Statistical analysis
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = <.001
  • People Who Inject Drugs · t-test, 2 sided · p = .23

Adverse events

Collected over From the time of informed consent through the 1-month follow-up assessment, a period of up to 3 months (where average duration was approximately 2 months).. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
People Who Inject Drugs0/19 (0%)0/19 (0%)0/19 (0%)

Baseline characteristics

Participants who completed the pretreatment assessment and enrolled in the study.

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)People Who Inject Drugs
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years23
>=65 years0
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)People Who Inject Drugs
Mean35.4 ± 7.8
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)People Who Inject Drugs
Female12
Male11
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)People Who Inject Drugs
Hispanic or Latino1
Not Hispanic or Latino22
Unknown or Not Reported0
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)People Who Inject Drugs
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American2
White15
More than one race5
Unknown or Not Reported0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(Participants)People Who Inject Drugs
United States23
08

Study locations

1 site
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Feb 28, 2023
  • Informed consent form · May 14, 2021

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — Deidentified individual data that supports the results will be shared beginning 9 to 36 months following publication provided the investigator who proposes to use the data has approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB), Independent Ethics Committee (IEC), or Research Ethics Board (REB), as applicable, and executes a data use/sharing agreement with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC).

Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap, Icf, Analytic code

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 30, 2023, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04943432
Lead sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Collaborators
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), University of North Carolina
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 29, 2021
Start date
Sep 29, 2021
Primary completion
May 8, 2022
Completion
May 8, 2022
Results posted
May 30, 2023
Last update
May 30, 2023

Study contacts

Catherine E Paquette, MPS, MA
principal investigator · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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