Perception of patients with alcohol use disorder and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages

Abstract

Background: Very little is known about the perception of patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages.

Objective: To examine the perception of patients with AUD and comorbid depression about the usefulness of supportive text messages.

Methods: Participants (n=26) with a DSM IV diagnosis of AUD and depression and completing an in-patient dual diagnosis treatment programme had twice daily supportive text messages delivered to their mobile phones for three months as part of a randomised trial. Participants were contacted at the end of the third month to obtain their views regarding the usefulness of the supportive text messages using a semi-structured questionnaire.

Results: Overall, 24 out of 26 patients were contactable for feedback (92% response rate). Eighteen (75%) patients reported that the text messages always or often reminded them to remain abstinent from alcohol. Again, 20 (83%) patients reported that the intervention had played a useful role in helping to improve their mental health, in particular, in serving as a motivation for recovery and in preventing relapse.

Conclusions: Patients with AUD and depression perceive that supportive text messages help them to remain abstinent from alcohol and also improve upon their mental wellbeing.