title: Supportive text messaging for depression and comorbid alcohol use disorder: single-blind randomised trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mobile phone text message technology has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with depression and co-morbid Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To perform a randomised rater-blinded trial to explore the effects of supportive text messages on mood and abstinence outcomes for patients with depression and co-morbid AUD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (n=54) with a DSM IV diagnosis of unipolar depression and AUD who completed an in-patient dual diagnosis treatment programme were randomised to receive twice daily supportive text messages (n=26) or a fortnightly thank you text message (n=28) for three months. Primary outcome measures were Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II) scores and Cumulative Abstinence Duration (CAD) in days at three months.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT0137868.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference in three month BDI-II scores between the intervention and control groups; 8.5 (SD=8.0) vs. 16.7 (SD=10.3) respectively after adjusting for the baseline scores, F (1, 49)=9.54, p=0.003, η(p)(2)=0.17. The mean difference in change BDI-II scores was -7.9 (95% CI -13.06 to -2.76, Cohen'sd=0.85). There was a trend for a greater CAD in the text message group than the control group: 88.3 (SD=6.2) vs. 79.3 (SD=24.1), t=1.78, df=48, p=0.08.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limitations of the study include the small sample size, the potential for loss of rater blinding and the lack of long term follow-up to determine the longer term effects of the intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supportive text messages have the potential to improve outcomes for patients with comorbid depression and alcohol dependency syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland. israelhans@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Vincent I O
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Agyapong
authors.forename: Sinead
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahern
authors.forename: Declan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.forename: Conor K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Farren
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D040421:Cell Phone; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D060145:Text Messaging