Randomised controlled trial of LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive-behavioural therapy for sexual minority women’s minority stress, mental health and hazardous drinking: Project EQuIP protocol

Introduction

Sexual minority women face high risks of dangerous drinking and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Research shows that stress from societal stigma affects their drinking habits and mental well-being. However, no effective treatments have been tested specifically for this group. This article introduces Project EQuIP, a study designed to test a special therapy aimed at helping these women cope with stress and reduce drinking and mental health problems.

Study Design

Project EQuIP is a randomized controlled trial funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. It has two main goals:

To compare the effectiveness of 10 sessions of LGBTQ-affirmative cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with 10 sessions of supportive counseling for sexual minority women who drink dangerously and have depression or anxiety.
To explore how personal and social factors affect the outcomes of the treatment.

The primary goal is to reduce heavy drinking days, while secondary goals include decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Ethics and Results Sharing

The research protocol has been approved by the Yale University Human Subjects Committee. Results will be shared with researchers and practitioners through publications and presentations, as well as directly with the study participants.

Opportunities Based on Trial Data

Based on the trial data from Project EQuIP, healthcare providers can:

Define Measurable Outcomes: Set clear goals for reducing hazardous drinking and improving mental health among sexual minority women.
Select AI Tools That Fit Clinical Needs: Choose AI solutions tailored to specific tasks related to patient care and monitoring.
Implement Step by Step and Expand: Start with a pilot project, using AI tools to track results and measure real-world impact.