How to Maintain High Retention Rates in Long-Term Research on Addiction: A Case Report

Svendsen, Thomas Solgaard; Erga, Aleksander Hagen; Hagen, Egon; Njå, Anne Lill Mjølhus; Msw, Janne Årstad; Nesvåg, Sverre

doi:10.1080/1533256x.2017.1361831

Cited by 20 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(31 reference statements)

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“…Follow-ups at 3 and 6 months comprised a smaller subset of measures assessing substance use and psychological and social functioning. To limit the rate of attrition, comprehensive efforts were made to ensure continued participation (Svendsen et al 2017).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Trajectories of psychological distress during recovery from polysubstance use disorder

Erga

Hønsi

Anda

et al. 2020

Addiction Research & Theory

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Introduction: Polysubstance use is a prevalent substance use pattern with adverse effects on psychological distress and diminished treatment outcomes. Although polysubstance use often dominates clinical practice, the trajectories of substance use and psychological distress in the initial phase of treatment have been subject to few empirical investigations. Material and Methods: 141 patients initiating inpatient or outpatient treatment for substance use disorder were followed for 12 months, using multiple assessments. We assessed psychological distress and substance use at baseline and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up visits. We implemented an SMS tracker of substance use during follow-up to reduce the impact of missing data. Results: Stable abstinence was associated with a lower baseline SCL-90-R score, as well as a more rapid symptomatic decline during the first 3 months of abstinence. Unstable abstinence was associated with higher GSI scores at baseline, but also with a significant drop in scores across the follow-up period. Relapse was associated with an initial drop in GSI scores, but a subsequent increase in GSI scores at later follow-ups. Conclusions: Most participants had a rapid reduction of psychological distress during the first 3 months of abstinence. Elevated levels of psychological distress may indicate an increased risk of drug use or relapse and should be monitored carefully. Our findings highlight the importance of early screening for psychological distress in SUD treatment, and advocate the use of tentative diagnostic procedures in the early phase of treatment of PSUD.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We implemented an SMS tracker in addition to the main follow-ups (Svendsen et al 2017). Participants received an automated text message every two weeks, to which they replied with information about their current substance use and treatment status.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectories of psychological distress during recovery from polysubstance use disorder

Erga

Hønsi

Anda

et al. 2020

Addiction Research & Theory

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“…The STAYER team recruited individuals who had used services between March 2012 and December 2015 in outpatient and residential treatment facilities. Inclusion criteria were that participants must be starting a new treatment sequence; fulfilled criteria for SUD; and were aged 16 or older (Hagen et al, 2016;Svendsen et al, 2017). We recruited our participants at their four-or fiveyear follow-ups, after the STAYER team conducted a screening process based on objective criteria for stable abstinence from substance use and social recovery.…”

Section: Sample and Recruitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reports of the benefits of drug use from individuals with substance use disorders

Bjørnestad

Veseth

Berg

et al. 2019

Psychotherapy Research

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Background: The perceived benefits of drug use are not currently integrated into the treatment of substance use disorder. This omission appears paradoxical and is unsubstantiated by empirical research. As the perceived benefits of drug use are catalysts for drug initiation, relapse and continuous use, increased knowledge about these benefits seems crucial to efficacious treatment. Aims: To investigate the perceived benefits of drug use in substance use disorder. Method: The study is a phenomenological-hermeneutical investigation using thematic analysis of interviews with 30 long-term recovered adult service users. Results: Our thematic analysis resulted in three themes and several sub-themes: (1) Benefits of drug use; (2) Necessity of intense experiences; and (3) Importance of being unconventional. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the benefits of non-problematic and problematic drug use are motivated by similar individual and social needs. An absolute distinction between problematic and non-problematic drug use thus seems arbitrary and potentially counterproductive for clinical practice. The benefits of drug use should be researched as a possible add-on treatment module, as this knowledge may be of significant clinical value in treatment frameworks.

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“…Dissemination of results has been done both at individual and aggregated levels in the Stayer study from its outset. This has provided the study with pragmatic organizational tools to "give back" information to participants, as one of several means to facilitate higher follow-up rates over time [30] and underlining the fact that the participant is more than a means to knowledge generation [25].…”

Section: Implications For Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This exploratory study is part of an ongoing longitudinal, 10-year clinical cohort follow-up study investigating longterm courses and outcomes in a recruited sample of individuals with SUD [27][28][29][30]. Our participants formed a subsample of 30 individuals who met strict criteria of long-term substance abstinence and social recovery [31,32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Becoming myself”: how participants in a longitudinal substance use disorder recovery study experienced receiving continuous feedback on their results

Svendsen

Bjørnestad

Slyngstad

et al. 2020

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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Background: Being a participant in longitudinal follow-up studies is not commonly a factor considered when investigating useful self-change aspects for individuals attempting recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). This study reports on how ongoing monitoring, and feedback on data results in a longitudinal follow-up study of SUD recovery were perceived by individuals who had achieved long-term abstinence and social recovery. Methods: Interviewers with first-hand experience with the topic conducted interviews with 30 participants and analysed the data using a thematic analytic approach within an interpretative-phenomenological framework. Results: Analyses resulted in the following themes. 1) Ongoing short text messaging (SMS) monitoring: helped participants by offering recovery milestones and reminders of the past. 2) Feedback on data results helped participants track physical and cognitive recovery: "I am more like myself". 3) Using feedback in treatment: understanding the importance of a functional brain to participants may help with long-term retention in treatment. Conclusions: Self-changes that were challenging to detect on a day-today basis were available for reflection through longitudinal study participation, including ongoing monitoring and feedback on the results, allowing personal consolidation of change processes. Clinical services could benefit from continuing development and implementation of such technology for ongoing monitoring and feedback on assessments to motivate self-change in SUD recovery. The development of guidelines for providing the results of research assessments to individuals could help reduce attrition in research projects and support recovery and healthy choices for study participants.

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How to Maintain High Retention Rates in Long-Term Research on Addiction: A Case Report

Cited by 20 publications

References 24 publications

Trajectories of psychological distress during recovery from polysubstance use disorder

Trajectories of psychological distress during recovery from polysubstance use disorder

Reports of the benefits of drug use from individuals with substance use disorders

“Becoming myself”: how participants in a longitudinal substance use disorder recovery study experienced receiving continuous feedback on their results

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