It is estimated that 585,000 people in Denmark engage in harmful use of alcohol with 140,000 suffering from alcohol dependence [
1]. However, only 15,000 [
2] seek specialist treatment for their alcohol problem, often after they have been suffering from an alcohol use disorder (AUD) for more than 10 years [
3]. In spite of the severe consequences of AUD, people with AUD (PWAUD) may not seek treatment for AUDs due to fear of subsequent stigma or being incapable of completing treatment [
4], although the most commonly reported reason to not seek treatment is the belief that one should be able to deal with the drinking problem without outside help [
5]. The concerned significant others (CSOs), such as spouses, parents, or adult children, are affected by the drinking, often suffering almost as much as the PWAUD him - or herself [
6].
The populations of CSOs are silent populations. CSOs easily get caught up in a pattern of behaviour that is nothing short of destructive [
7]. Studies have shown that CSOs suffer from symptoms such as anxiety, depression, stress, concentration difficulties, physical pain and anger because of a poor relationship with the PWAUD [
8]. In addition, violence and sexual abuse are often linked to an alcohol problem [
7,
9]. Indeed, compared to the general Danish population, the frequencies of such symptoms are two to three times more common both among persons with an AUD and among their partners [
10,
11].
In the Danish National Health survey 2010 [
13], heavy drinkers in the Region of South Denmark were asked where, if at all, they would seek help to reduce drinking. Most drinkers had no such desire, but were they to consider seeking help, the most common choice would be looking to family and friends, followed by the general practitioner. Choosing to seek specialist treatment ranked very low. For that reason, it makes excellent sense to empower the families and friends of the person suffering from an AUD, enabling them to act in ways that help PWAUDs towards seeking and receiving treatment.
What kind of intervention is relevant for CSOs?
Five types of interventions, aimed at the CSOs, have been described: self-help groups (Al-Anon/Nar-Anon) which are part of the Minnesota treatment family [
14], the Johnson Institute Intervention (a very confrontational approach) [
15], general unspecific support (typically aimed at supporting the CSO only, but not addressing how to increase the likelihood of getting PWAUD into treatment) [
16], The 5-step method [
17] and Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT). So far, CRAFT is the only one of these methods with any evidence to support that it increases the likelihood of the PWAUD seeking treatment [
18]. CRAFT was proposed in 1986 by Sisson and Azrin [
19] aimed at training CSOs to become involved in the problem drinkers’ choice of treatment, helping CSOs handle situations between themselves and the problem drinkers, and finally helping the CSOs to develop specific strategies to take proper care of themselves in risk situations [
20,
21].
Craft
CRAFT is aimed at CSOs who struggle, unsuccessfully, to motivate their loved ones to stop drinking and seek treatment. CRAFT promotes active, positive participation from the CSOs in seeking to attract problem drinkers into treatment; changing CSOs’ efforts to help by developing their roles as active collaborators, supportive of the problem drinker. The underlying assumption of CRAFT is, that CSOs already have a detailed knowledge of the problem drinkers’ behaviour and that they are in a strong position to influence PWAUDs’ behaviour because of their concern and personal motivation, including getting PWAUDs to seek treatment [
8]. So far, eight randomized or controlled clinical trials on CRAFT have been carried out on CSOs to alcohol dependents and drug users [
16,
18‐
20,
22‐
25]. Three studies focus on alcohol problems [
16,
19,
25], three studies on drug users [
22‐
24], and two studies on both drug users and alcohol dependents [
18,
20]. One of the studies on drug users studied CRAFT as a supplement to opioid-dependent adults already in treatment [
24]. All studies have been carried out in the USA except one study on alcohol, which was carried out in Germany [
25]. The German study compared CRAFT Immediate Intervention with waiting list and found a significantly higher engagement rate (B 1.34 SE 0.6) for the people receiving immediate intervention [
25]. The American studies showed a two to three times higher impact in getting PWAUD to attend treatment after four to six CRAFT sessions with CSOs, compared with Al-Anon and Johnson Institute interventions [
26]. In general, CRAFT interventions to CSOs lead to more than 60% of the PWAUDs in question to attending treatment in US [
16]. Several of these studies have rather small samples from 12 to 40 CSOs [
19,
20,
22] The original full intervention of CRAFT consists of 12–14 sessions [
19]. Kirby et al. (2017) tested CRAFT in a four-six session intervention, where the only focus in the sessions was on Treatment Entry Training (TEnt) vs. the original CRAFT in 12–14 sessions and Al-Anon/Nar Anon (ANF), and 115 CSOs participated in the study. There was no counseling about e.g. relationship or substance use [
18]. The treatment entry rate, after the intervention, was 62% for the CSOs randomized to the full CRAFT and 63% for the ones randomized to Tent, which was significantly higher than the ones receiving Al-Anon/Nar Anon (treatment entry rate 37%). This was to be expected, as the goal of Al-Anon/Nar-Anon is not to encourage treatment entry. No significant differences in mood and functioning were found between the three interventions, even though it was not a subject in the TEnt intervention.
CRAFT has, until now, been examined and shown effective in the USA and Germany. To our knowledge, studies on CRAFT have also been initiated in the Netherlands (
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02510508) and Sweden (ISRCTN 38220020), but the results are not yet published. In the Netherlands researchers are performing a three-armed RCT with group, self-directed CRAFT or non-intervention addressed to CSOs to alcohol dependents. In Sweden, the effect of a five-week internet-based CRAFT program is tested versus waiting list (ISRCTN 38220020), in addition to another study on an online self-help program combined with a parent-training program for partners suffering from alcohol use disorder, versus a brief psycho-education program [
27]. Moreover, a RCT study on CRAFT for CSOs with problem gamblers (CRAFT vs. treatment as usual) is currently being conducted in Sweden [
28]. Earlier studies performed are based on small populations, and no study of CRAFT has been performed in Denmark so far.
Furthermore, to our knowledge, only one effectiveness study, performed in operating treatment institutions and as part of routine praxis, has been conducted [
29]. The study from Dutcher et al., 2009, tested CRAFT in a community treatment center in the USA. Altogether 99 CSOs were concerned about alcohol abusers, whereas, for all CSOs, 55% of the treatment-refusing abusers entered treatment after 6 months. Among the CSOs, who completed at least four sessions on CRAFT, or the ones who engaged the abuser to treatment, 65% entered treatment. Further, effectiveness studies outside the USA are still essential before large-scale implementation.
The efficacy studies and the effectiveness studies performed, so far, indicate that CRAFT is effective for CSOs towards getting the drinking person into treatment and to improve the quality of life of the CSO and the relationship between the drinking person and the CSO [
16,
18‐
20,
22‐
25]. Whether CRAFT delivered in group, individual or as self-help material is equally effective is, however, still unknown. The study of Manuel et al. indicated, that CRAFT in group condition may be just as effective as individual CRAFT, but the study was indeed small and did not compare the two settings directly. In the study of Manuel et al., 40 CSOs were randomized to either group CRAFT or self-directed CRAFT, and 60% of the CSOs in group CRAFT had their loved ones enter treatment, and for the self-directed CRAFT the result was 40% after six months [
20]. Hence, the findings were promising, but not conclusive or significant.
Furthermore, groups can be organized as closed groups or open groups. In closed groups, all CSOs start at the same time and no new members are enrolled, once the treatment has begun. An open group can start when a minimum of two members are enrolled in the study and new members are included continually until the maximum of group members has been reached. When testing CRAFT in a closed group format, Manuel et al. experienced challenges with the start-up, because it took up to one month to gather enough CSOs to start a group [
20]. Compared to closed groups, open groups can be joined without a waiting period. Furthermore, an open group format may create opportunities for senior members in the group to share experiences and advice with newcomers [
20]. However, an open group format may also be negatively affected by a constant influx and outflux of people in the group, in addition to not all group members receiving the sessions in a logical order. A general strength of group therapy, in proportion to individual and self-help, may be that the CSOs meet like-minded individuals and are able to share similar experiences and feelings and support each other.
Aim and hypotheses
The aim of this study is to implement CRAFT interventions into the daily routine of Danish community alcohol treatment centers, and investigate whether 6 week-individual CRAFT, 6 week-open group-based CRAFT or based on CRAFT self-help material only, is efficient in getting problem drinkers to seek treatment for their alcohol problems – and which of the three interventions (individual, group or self-directed CRAFT) is the most effective.
Hypotheses
1. CSOs, randomly assigned to either individual CRAFT or to open group CRAFT, will significantly more often be able to motivate their drinking relative to enter treatment compared to CSOs, randomly assigned to the control condition (self-directed CRAFT).
2. We hypothesize that six sessions of group CRAFT improve the quality of life and psychological functioning of CSOs significantly more than individual CRAFT and self-directed CRAFT.