MIRAGE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Pilot randomised trial of functional imagery training plus treatment as usual versus treatment as usual alone to reduce alcohol-related harm in patients with alcohol-related liver disease admitted to hospital
IRAS ID
293042
Contact name
Ashwin Dhanda
Contact email
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN41353774
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Research Summary:
Alcohol-related liver disease is caused by long-term heavy alcohol use and is the commonest cause of liver disease in the UK. The only cure to prevent worsening this type of liver disease is reducing or stopping drinking alcohol. Current support for people trying to stop drinking alcohol is insufficient. The goal of this study is to test a new form of psychological support to help patients stop drinking. The new treatment, which is called Functional Imagery Training (FIT), is a psychological therapy that improves motivation to change a behaviour.
The study will tell us if people find FIT helpful and if they continue using FIT after leaving hospital. This information will help design a future, larger trial to answer whether FIT is better than the current support offered and is good value for money, as a treatment for alcohol-dependence in people with alcohol-related liver disease.
FIT is a form of psychological therapy that uses mental imagery to support a change in behaviour such as reducing or stopping drinking alcohol. In this study, a trained nurse will deliver FIT by talking to the participant about why they want to stop drinking, and what ideas they have for doing that. During the conversation, the nurse will help the participant develop vivid images in their mind showing the first steps they will take towards their goal, how they will use their personal strengths to overcome obstacles, and how they will feel when they have successfully reduced their alcohol use. Participants will be trained to practice this imagery regularly, ready for use when they experience a craving for alcohol or a lack of motivation. The initial training in FIT takes less than an hour and then is strengthened by occasional top-up sessions.Lay summary of study results:
This study looked at how to help people with alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol dependence in the hospital. We wanted to see if a therapy called Functional Imagery Training (FIT), which uses mental pictures to reduce alcohol cravings, could be useful. We compared two groups: one getting the treatment as usual (TAU) and the other getting TAU plus FIT.
We found that we could get people with alcohol-related liver disease and alcohol dependence to join the study, but many didn't stay in the study for the full 180 days. FIT treatment could be given reasonably well by alcohol nurses in the hospital. About half of those who got FIT completed the first two sessions. In the end, there were no big differences in alcohol use or how severe their alcohol dependence was between the two groups.
In short, we could get people to try FIT, but many didn't stick with it. Before we do a bigger study, we need to figure out how to get more people to take part and stay in the program.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0044
Date of REC Opinion
26 Feb 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion