Table 2.
The behavioral change techniques contained within Breaking Free Online using the taxonomy produced by Michie et al. [5]
| Techniques within BFO (area of LBM/program) | Intervention target | BCT taxonomy (number in taxonomy) |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive | ||
| Node-link mapping/psychoeducation (all LBM) | Case formulation – understand the links between situations, thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physical sensations and lifestyle | Information about antecedents (4.2); Information about health consequences (5.1); Salience of consequences (5.2); Information about social and environmental consequences (5.3); Information about emotional consequences (5.6) |
| Motivational enhancement (lifestyle) | Increase treatment engagement and retention. Increase readiness to change behavior | Non-specific reward (10.3); Focus on past success (15.3) |
| Implementation intentions (lifestyle) | Situational cue to elicit behavior | Action planning (1.4) |
| Cognitive restructuring/mind traps (negative thoughts) | Challenge thoughts that may be unhelpful and linked to situations in which substances might be used | Re-attribution (4.3); Framing-reframing (13.2) |
| Behavioral | ||
| Reward and reinforcement (achievements) | Encourage new behavior and continuation of this behavior via positive feedback | Non-specific reward (10.3); Non-specific incentive (10.6); Reward approximation (14.4); Rewarding completion (14.5); |
| Refusal and assertiveness skills (difficult situations) | Relapse prevention for coping with environmental/situational/emotional triggers | Problem solving (1.2); Action planning (1.4); Instruction on how to perform a behavior (4.1); Behavioral practice/rehearsal (8.1); Behavior substitution (8.2); Avoidance/reducing exposure to cues for the behavior (12.3) |
| Harm reduction (information on alcohol and drugs) | Reduce negative or fatal consequences of substance using behaviors | Information about health consequences (5.1); Salience of consequences (5.2); Behavior substitution (8.2); Habit reversal (8.4) |
| Activity scheduling (unhelpful behaviors) | Increase activity to increase energy levels and relieve boredom | Goal setting (behavior) (1.1); Action planning (1.4) |
| Self-monitoring (progress check) | Monitor behavior to provide feedback about progress towards goals | Self-monitoring of behavior (2.3); Feedback on outcome(s) of behavior (2.7) |
| Affective | ||
| Emotional regulation (understanding your emotions) | Recognize/understand/normalize emotions | Information about emotional consequences (5.6); Behavioral practice/rehearsal (8.1); Reduce negative emotions (11.2) |
| Coping strategy enhancement (understanding your emotions) | Developing more appropriate coping strategies | Problem solving (1.2); Social support (unspecified) (3.1); Behavioral practice/rehearsal (8.1); Distraction (12.4) |
| Cognitive-behavioral | ||
| Relapse prevention (understanding your difficult situations) | Creating action plans on how to avoid or cope in high risk situations | Goal setting (behavior) (1.1); Problem solving (1.2); Action planning (1.4) |
| Crisis management (understanding your difficult situations) | Intervention to help people in distress access support | Social support (unspecified) (3.1); Reduce negative emotions (11.2) |
| Goal setting (lifestyle) | Creating SMART goals for recovery | Goal setting (behavior) (1.1); Problem solving (1.2); Goal setting (outcome) (1.3); Action planning (1.4) |
| Cognitive-behavioral-affective | ||
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (understanding your emotions) | Relapse prevention based techniques | Instruction on how to perform a behavior (4.1); Behavioral practice/rehearsal (8.1); Reduce negative emotions (11.2) |