(May) The Addiction Recovery Clinic (ARC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Addiction Recovery Clinic (ARC): Personalised Behavioural Intervention for Opioid Use Disorder
IRAS ID
129062
Contact name
John Marsden
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kings College, London
Research summary
How can we improve effectiveness of NHS psychological therapy for opioid (street heroin) dependence?
The ARC study aims to address this important clinical question by comparing the effectiveness of a personalised behavioural intervention (PBI) versus standard treatment-as-usual (TAU) case management for opioid use disorder over 12 weeks. The clinical population are adults, enrolled for 6 weeks on front-line NHS standard treatment and using heroin or cocaine. Our PBI brings together several NICE recommended therapeutic techniques that are empirically supported by research studies, but are not routinely delivered in the NHS. TAU is clinical ’keyworker’ support and basic counselling. Participants receiving the PBI will have a treatment plan unique to their needs and interests and delivered as a mix of individual and group-based therapies and referrals to local support services. All participants receiving the PBI will also receive continuing case management, so the PBI can be seen as an enhanced intervention with TAU. Participants who receive the TAU intervention receive personal clinical appointments with their assigned keyworker every 14 days. The primary outcome measure is urine drug screen verified self-reported abstinence from heroin and cocaine in the past 28 days at 14 week follow-up post enrolment to the study.
There are two additional elements: (1) We will ask for permission to access information in national data registries (additions treatment, criminal convictions, NHS treatment, mortality) using linkage of personal information (name, age, date of birth, home postcode). Grouped rates (not revealing any individual data) will be used to evaluate the longer-term effectiveness of treatment (5 years post-enrolment). (2) We will ask participants for consent to give a saliva sample for DNA biomarker evaluation of addiction severity, and potential responsiveness to therapy. Samples will be collected at enrolment and at the study endpoint and analysed at the Institute of Psychiatry over the next 5 years.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0640
Date of REC Opinion
5 Jun 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion