BFO vs Standard Treatment in SUD: Telehealth Model
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Randomised, Open-Label, Parallel-Group Study Examining Outcomes of Breaking Free Online Computer-Assisted-Therapy plus Standard Treatment versus Standard Treatment Alone in Participants with Substance Use Disorders: A Telehealth Approach
IRAS ID
291734
Contact name
Sarah Elison-Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Breaking Free Online Limited
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN13694016
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Computer-assisted therapies (CAT) provide access to evidence-based therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy techniques, via the internet. As a treatment modality, CAT has been demonstrated to widen access to treatment, and can also be more cost-effective than receiving one-to-one therapy as multiple users can access the therapy at the same time. Alongside the evidence-base for effectiveness of CAT for depression and anxiety disorders, the evidence-base for CAT approaches for substance use disorders (SUD) is also growing. Many barriers to SUD treatment exist, however one very significant barrier to treatment that many individuals with SUD have faced recently has been the impact of worldwide societal lockdowns that have been initiated in an attempt to curb the transmission of SAR-CoV-2, or ‘COVID-19’. Individuals with SUD may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic, compounded by the fact that many have been unable to access the in-person treatment services and mutual aid groups that are so vital to their ongoing recovery, because many of these in-person sources of support have been restricted during the lockdown period. ‘Breaking Free Online’ is a tailorable CAT programme designed to support recovery from SUD and concurrent mental health issues. BFO is appropriate for addressing the use of a wide number of substances as it has been designed to a target the biopsychosocial and lifestyle factors that underlie SUDs more generally. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of BFO when it is delivered alongside the restricted services delivered during this period of pandemic, versus standard treatments alone. Specifically, BFO will be delivered via a novel ‘telehealth’ approach, which shall be evaluated for the potential to provide effective support to individuals in recovery from SUD during a time when they may be particularly vulnerable to relapse.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0191
Date of REC Opinion
24 Aug 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion