Psicoterapia por internet para dependentes de álcool de um site especializado: viabilidade, aceitabilidade e resultados clínicos iniciais

Abstract

Although problematic alcohol consumption is a public health problem, the search for treatment is small and the supply of specialized services is insufficient. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of online treatments for different disorders, including alcohol use disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the viability and acceptability of an online psychotherapy for alcohol dependents and to describe the initial clinical results. For this, a pilot study was carried out with the participants with suggestive use of dependence registered in the site www.informalcool.org.br/bebermenos. The invitations were made by e-mail and the proposed psychotherapy was done entirely by videoconference. We observe that between the registration and the accomplishment of the psychotherapy there are some stages of loss. The participants were described at each stage to better understand their profile. It was observed that the prevalent profile for this intervention between all stages of recruitment and internet psychotherapy was men, employed, with high schooling, in contemplation readiness to change drinking behavior, with a mean age between 37 and 41.3 years and AUDIT score between 22.7 and 26.0. None of the participants in online psychotherapy had previously treated themselves for their alcohol use. It was found that the response rate to e-mail invitations to online psychotherapy was 28.2%, and all eligible participants invited to attend agreed to initiate treatment, confirming acceptability. Of the 12 patients who started psychotherapy six finalized. There was a reduction in the number of standard drinks consumed, from 9.6 drinks to 3 drinks per occasion and an increase in the number of days abstinent, from 14 days to 21.3 days. We consider that the sample in this study presented a good acceptability to the proposal of psychotherapy delivered by Internet, even though there are rates of loss, since these exist in clinical studies and in psychotherapy. We consider it feasible to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of online psychotherapy.