Guided Internet-Based Treatment for Harmful Alcohol Use; EBehandling Alkohol

Plain-language summary

Guided internet-based treatment for individuals with harmful alcohol use, eBehandling Alkohol (eBA), will be implemented as an experimental treatment option in five hospitals autumn 2024. Concurrently, a research project related to the effects of eBA will be conducted. Results from a pilot project show that treatment with eBA can help reduce alcohol use and improve mental health among people with harmful alcohol consumption. Similar results have been found in other international studies. Many individuals with harmful alcohol consumption avoid seeking treatment, leading to negative consequences for the individual, their families, and society. The pilot project indicates that guided internet-based treatment is an effective treatment that is easily accessible and cost-effective. Access to eBA can help circumvent shame and stigma, increase access to treatment, reduce alcohol use, and improve physical and mental health. Individuals who wish to participate in eBA do not need a referral from a GP. After an initial screening, participants will be given access to eBA, which consists of 9 treatment modules to be completed over an 8-12-week period, upon giving their consent. Participants will be followed up 4 weeks, 6 months, and 2 years after the completion of treatment. Data will be collected during screening, throughout the treatment period, and post-treatment. Data will be collected in the form of questionnaires, interviews, and registry data. Simultaneously with the implementation of eBA as an experimental treatment, this project aims to investigate the characteristics of participants who apply for eBA, as well as examine the effects eBA may have in terms of reducing alcohol use, improving physical and mental health, and enhancing the quality of life among participants. The overarching goal of the study is to strengthen the understanding of the effects of internet-based treatment, thereby providing a sufficient basis to assess whether eBA should be implemented as a regular treatment option. The study will also be part of a larger collaborative project where we will conduct meta-analyses of results from eBA and two other studies that also include treatment programs aimed at individuals with varying degrees of alcohol problems: the "Predictor Study" and "Endre". The three treatment programs are aimed at individuals who are at different stages in their problem trajectory. The goal of this collaborative project is to contribute to the development of a more holistic and targeted treatment offer for individuals with varying degrees of problem development.

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Trial details