Substance-Related DisordersNCT05489068
Motivational Interviewing at Intake vs Intake as Usual on Client Engagement in Addiction Treatment
A study testing Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) and Intake as Usual (IAU) in people with Substance-Related Disorders and Treatment Adherence, run by University of New Mexico at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This K23 study is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type I design to determine the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII), relative to intake-as-usual on client engagement and mechanisms of engagement among adults seeking outpatient addiction treatment. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Substance-Related Disorders, Treatment Adherence
- What is being tested?
- Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) and Intake as Usual (IAU)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 150 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 16 Mar 2022to 1 Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- English-speaking adults seeking treatment for alcohol or other drug use at one of two outpatient addiction treatment programs
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures
- Physically withdrawn from alcohol or other drugs
- English-speaking adults currently employed at one of the two outpatient addiction treatment programs
- Provision of electronic informed consent
Who cannot join
- Experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms
- Actively psychotic, manic, and/or suicidal
- current position: facility owner or clinical director
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
UNM Psychology Clinic
Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131
Jane Smith, 505-277-5165, mhurlocker@unm.edu
About this study
Official title: Adapting Intake Procedures to Improve Treatment Delivery in Addiction Treatment
This K23 study is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type I design to determine the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII), relative to intake-as-usual on client engagement and mechanisms of engagement among adults seeking outpatient addiction treatment. We also will obtain personnel feedback on the feasibility of implementing MII into standard practice by having personnel from the addiction treatment study sites complete implementation climate measures before Motivational Interviewing (MI) training and post-clinical trial, as well as an individual interview on implementation feasibility post-trial.
- Conditions
- Substance-Related Disorders, Treatment Adherence
- Being tested
- Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII), Intake as Usual (IAU)
- Medical subject headings
- Substance-Related Disorders, Treatment Adherence and Compliance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII)Behavioural
The MII will involve a goal-oriented and collaborative conversation about why the client wants treatment now, and how treatment might fit with his/her most important values. The provider will use open questions, reflective listening and autonomy support in a flexible, non-authoritative manner. Rather than asking specific questions in different life domains, the provider will explore with the client their desires, abilities, reasons, and needs for treatment, how treatment fits with their values, and what successful treatment looks like to them. The client's language about change will be strategically reinforced to increase its frequency and strength across the session.
Intake as Usual (IAU)Behavioural
In line with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) guidelines, the IAU condition involves a semi-structured interview of the client's psychosocial history and clients answer a series of questions in the following domains: support system, living situation, educational, occupational, family, and medical history.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) | Experimental | Clients allocated to the MII condition will receive a 90-minute pure Motivational Interviewing (MI) session. Receives: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) |
| Intake as Usual (IAU) | Active comparator | Clients allocated to the IAU condition will receive the 90-minute standard assessment that is delivered to all clients entering intensive outpatient program (IOP)/outpatient program (OP). Receives: Behavioral: Intake as Usual (IAU) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of participants who attended the first outpatient treatment program session based on electronic medical record review
Treatment entry is determined by review of electronic medical record of whether clients attended their first scheduled treatment session
Measured: up to 36 weeks
Number of treatment sessions attended during the three-month outpatient treatment program based on electronic medical record review
Number of treatment sessions that clients attend is determined by review of electronic medical record and calculating number of treatment sessions attended.
Measured: up to 36 weeks
Number of participants who completed the three-month outpatient treatment program based on electronic medical record review
Completion of the three-month outpatient treatment program is determined by review of electronic medical record
Measured: up to 36 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Change from baseline in client readiness to enter treatment on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) at 1 hour post-intake
The URICA is a validated, self-report measure of client readiness for treatment engagement. Possible scores range from 32 to 160 with higher scores indicative greater readiness to enter treatment. Change = (Hour 1 score - Baseline Score).
Measured: baseline and 1 hour post-intake
Score on therapeutic alliance on the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) at 1-hour post-intake
The WAI is a validated, self-report measure of client perceptions of the therapeutic process by assessing three sub scales: Goals, Bond, and Tasks. Possible scores on sub scales range from 12 to 84 with higher scores indicative of better therapeutic alliance.
Measured: 1 hour post-intake
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Aug 2022
- Study start16 Mar 2022
- Primary completion1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Substance-Related DisordersStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Type 1 Design
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of New Mexico
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Margo Hurlocker, PhD, Principal investigator, University of New Mexico
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05489068
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- A22-0014
- Other IDs
- K23DA052646
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 26 Jul 2022
- Last updated
- 9 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Individual participant data that underlie results reported in a peer-reviewed publication, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices). Session audio recordings will not be shared.
Publications
Hurlocker MC, Moyers TB, Hatch M, Curran G, McCrady B, Venner KL, Witkiewitz K. Effectiveness and feasibility of a motivational interviewing intake (MII) intervention for increasing client engagement in outpatient addiction treatment: an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design protocol. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2023 Oct 21;18(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00412-y.
PubMed 37865777
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 9 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Adapting Intake Procedures to Improve Treatment Delivery in Addiction Treatment
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05489068
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- A22-0014
- Conditions
- Substance-Related Disorders, Treatment Adherence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 150 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of New MexicoUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- Study start
- 16 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Aug 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This K23 study is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type I design to determine the effectiveness of Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII), relative to intake-as-usual on client engagement and mechanisms of engagement among adults seeking outpatient addiction treatment. We also will obtain personnel feedback on the feasibility of implementing MII into standard practice by having personnel from the addiction treatment study sites complete implementation climate measures before Motivational Interviewing (MI) training and post-clinical trial, as well as an individual interview on implementation feasibility post-trial.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Type 1 Design
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) | Experimental | Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII)Clients allocated to the MII condition will receive a 90-minute pure Motivational Interviewing (MI) session. |
| Intake as Usual (IAU) | Active comparator | Behavioral: Intake as Usual (IAU)Clients allocated to the IAU condition will receive the 90-minute standard assessment that is delivered to all clients entering intensive outpatient program (IOP)/outpatient program (OP). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- English-speaking adults seeking treatment for alcohol or other drug use at one of two outpatient addiction treatment programs
- Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures
- Physically withdrawn from alcohol or other drugs
- English-speaking adults currently employed at one of the two outpatient addiction treatment programs
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms
- Actively psychotic, manic, and/or suicidal
- current position: facility owner or clinical director
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII)The MII will involve a goal-oriented and collaborative conversation about why the client wants treatment now, and how treatment might fit with his/her most important values. The provider will use open questions, reflective listening and autonomy support in a flexible, non-authoritative manner. Rather than asking specific questions in different life domains, the provider will explore with the client their desires, abilities, reasons, and needs for treatment, how treatment fits with their values, and what successful treatment looks like to them. The client's language about change will be strategically reinforced to increase its frequency and strength across the session. | Behavioural | Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) |
| Intake as Usual (IAU)In line with the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) guidelines, the IAU condition involves a semi-structured interview of the client's psychosocial history and clients answer a series of questions in the following domains: support system, living situation, educational, occupational, family, and medical history. | Behavioural | Intake as Usual (IAU) |
Primary outcome
Number of participants who attended the first outpatient treatment program session based on electronic medical record review
Time frame: up to 36 weeks
Treatment entry is determined by review of electronic medical record of whether clients attended their first scheduled treatment session
Number of treatment sessions attended during the three-month outpatient treatment program based on electronic medical record review
Time frame: up to 36 weeks
Number of treatment sessions that clients attend is determined by review of electronic medical record and calculating number of treatment sessions attended.
Number of participants who completed the three-month outpatient treatment program based on electronic medical record review
Time frame: up to 36 weeks
Completion of the three-month outpatient treatment program is determined by review of electronic medical record
2 secondary outcomes
Change from baseline in client readiness to enter treatment on the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale (URICA) at 1 hour post-intake
Time frame: baseline and 1 hour post-intake
Score on therapeutic alliance on the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) at 1-hour post-intake
Time frame: 1 hour post-intake
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 9 Mar 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37865777Hurlocker MC, Moyers TB, Hatch M, Curran G, McCrady B, Venner KL, Witkiewitz K. Effectiveness and feasibility of a motivational interviewing intake (MII) intervention for increasing client engagement in outpatient addiction treatment: an effectiveness-implementation hybrid design protocol. Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2023 Oct 21;18(1):63. doi: 10.1186/s13722-023-00412-y.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Individual participant data that underlie results reported in a peer-reviewed publication, after deidentification (text, tables, figures, and appendices). Session audio recordings will not be shared.
Related trials for Substance-Related Disorders
RecruitingObservational study
Olfactory Function and Model-Based Behavior in People Living With HIV and SUD
HIV, Substance Use Disorder
Not yet recruiting
Remote Intervention to Prevent Overdose
Accidental Overdose of Opiate
Active, not recruiting
Healing Opioid Misuse and Pain Through Engagement (HOPE) Trial
Opioid Use Disorder, Chronic Pain
Recruiting
Tdcs And cogNitive traininG cOmbined for AUD (TANGO)
Alcohol Use Disorder, Addiction
Not yet recruitingPhase 1
Phase I Trial of High-Density Theta Burst Stimulation (hdTBS)
Healthy Volunteers
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Margo Hurlocker, PhD principal investigator
University of New Mexico
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Motivational Interviewing at Intake (MII) and Intake as Usual (IAU) in people with Substance-Related Disorders and Treatment Adherence, run by University of New Mexico at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 9 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Margo Hurlocker, PhD ((505) 596-0578, mhurlocker@unm.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of participants who attended the first outpatient treatment program session based on electronic medical record review (time frame: up to 36 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05489068, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 9 Mar 2026.