Affiliations: [a] Department of Psychiatry, University of Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland | [b] Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Vincent I.O. Agyapong, Department of Psychiatry, St Patrick's University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. E-mail: israelhans@hotmail.com.
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.
Keywords: Depression, alcohol use disorder, supportive text messages, patients, perception
