Open Trial of a Behavioral Activation Telepsychology Intervention for People Who Inject Drugs

Open Trial of a Behavioral Activation Telepsychology Intervention for People Who Inject Drugs

The study has two aims: 1) To examine the feasibility and acceptability of administering a telepsychology Behavioral Activation (BA) treatment for substance use among non-treatment-seeking people who inject drugs (PWID); 2) To test the initial efficacy of the treatment from pretreatment to a 1-month follow-up on substance-related problems, readiness to change drug use, and BA. The intervention is hypothesized to be feasible and well-accepted, and within-subject analyses are hypothesized to demonstrate decreases in substance-related problems and increases in readiness to change drug use and BA from pretreatment to a 1-month follow-up.

The study aims to recruit N=25 non-treatment-seeking PWID from a syringe exchange program (estimated treated sample n=15). Participants will receive 8 sessions of BA over 4 weeks, and assessment of study outcome measures will occur at pretreatment, post-treatment, and a one-month follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 18 years of age
• Reports regular recent injection drug use (defined as injecting drugs on at least one day in the last week and injecting drugs for at least two months)
• Can identify at least one goal or area of change to address during treatment
• Has regular (at least twice weekly) access to an electronic device that can make phone or video calls and has access to the internet to complete online questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

• Attending or on a wait list to receive psychosocial substance use treatment
• <5th grade reading level
• Impairment due to active psychosis
• Unable to give informed, voluntary, written consent to participate.