Disorders - Alcohol Use
Mermelstein, L. C., Garske, J. P.
The current study sought to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a brief mindfulness intervention aimed to reduce rates and consequences of binge drinking among college students. Participants were 76 undergraduate students assigned to a mindfulness/cue exposure group (MG) or a control/cue exposure only group (CG). Assessments were administered at the beginning of the initial session (i.e., baseline), the end of the initial session (i.e., posttreatment) and weekly for the subsequent 4 weeks. During the initial session, participants engaged in a cue exposure protocol that differed by group. The MG participated in a 60-min individual mindfulness intervention composed of didactic and experiential activities during the initial session. They participated in a mindfulness practice during the Week 2 follow-up assessment and were asked to engage in 1 hr of out-of-session mindfulness meditation each week during the 4-week assessment period. Treatment outcome examined changes in frequency of binge episodes, consequences of alcohol use, readiness to change alcohol use, alcohol refusal self-efficacy, and dispositional mindfulness between groups over time. Group differences in readiness to change, selfefficacy, and dispositional mindfulness were not found from baseline to posttreatment. Four weeks after the initial intervention, the MG reported significantly less binge episodes, fewer consequences of alcohol use, higherself-efficacy and higher dispositional mindfulness than the CG. Feasibility and participant acceptability of the intervention was demonstrated by consistent attendance, low attrition and high satisfaction ratings by the MG. Results provide initial support for the efficacy of a brief, mindfulnessbased intervention among college students who report binge drinking.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 29(2) : 259-269
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Mindfulness based therapy
Kingsbury, J. H., Gibbons, F. X., Gerrard, M.
Objectives: Many interventions targeting college student drinking have focused on negative health effects of drinking heavily; however, some research suggests that social factors may have a stronger influence on the drinking behaviour of young people. Moreover, few studies have examined message framing effects in the context of alcohol consumption. This study investigated the effects of social and health consequence framing on college students' intentions to engage in heavy drinking.; Design: This study used a 2 × 2 experimental design with an appended control condition.; Methods: One hundred and twenty-four college students (74 women; M(age) = 18.9) participated in this study for course credit. Participants read vignettes that were ostensibly written by a recent graduate from the university, who described an episode of drinking in which he or she experienced either social or health consequences. These consequences were framed as either a gain (i.e., positive consequences of not drinking heavily) or a loss (i.e., negative consequences of drinking heavily). After reading the vignette, participants completed a measure of heavy drinking intentions.; Results: Regression analyses revealed that social consequences were associated with lower heavy drinking intentions when framed as a loss and that health consequences were associated with lower heavy drinking intentions when framed as a gain. These effects were stronger among those who reported higher (vs. lower) levels of previous drinking.; Conclusions: Results suggest that interventions that focus on the negative health effects of heavy drinking may be improved by instead emphasizing the negative social consequences of drinking heavily and the positive health consequences of avoiding this behaviour. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Previous studies have shown that gain frames are more effective than loss frames when highlighting the health consequences of health risk behaviours, such as heavy drinking. The heavy drinking behaviour of young people is influenced by social factors (e.g., perceived social consequences). However, little is known about framing effects for social consequences of heavy drinking. What does this study add? This study builds on previous research by demonstrating that a loss frame is more effective than a gain frame when highlighting the social consequences of health risk behaviour. Framing effects are strongest for those with more previous drinking experience.; © 2014 The British Psychological Society.
British journal of health psychology, 20(1) : 212-220
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Ickes, M. J., Haider, T., Sharma, M.
Trends in alcohol consumption of college students remain a concern. Presented is a systematic review to determine the efficacy of alcohol-abuse interventions for college students. To be included in this review, the study must have been published in English between 2007 and 2012, include an alcohol-abuse intervention for college students in the US, use any quantitative study design, and measure psychosocial variables related to alcohol behavior. A total of 49 studies met these criteria, including 40 RCTs. Motivational interviewing (n=12) and brief motivational interventions (n=10) were the most widely used intervention strategies, with the majority of the interventions targeting college students under 21 years of age (n=35). Results indicate interventions found success with decreased drinking (n=34), reduction in alcohol problems or consequences (n=8), and decreased peer perception of alcohol use (n=4). Considering the success of these programs, alcohol prevention programming is warranted on college campuses. Programs including a brief, personalized consultation with a trained facilitator may yield the greatest improvements in targeted behaviors. Reported limitations within intervention design included low sample sizes, high attrition rates, and significant differences in baseline characteristics. Future studies should aim to address these limitations in study design as well as conduct long-term follow-up to determine sustainability of intervention effect.
Journal of Substance Use, 20(3) : 208-227
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
Gilbertson, R., Norton, T., Beery, S., Lee, K.
Objective: Commercially available, web-based interventions for the prevention of alcohol use are being adopted for universal use in first-year college students, yet few have received empirical evaluation. This randomized, controlled trial, investigated the effectiveness of a novel, commercially available, personalized web-based alcohol intervention, Alcohol-Wise (version 4.0, 3rd Millennium Classrooms) on multiple measures of alcohol consumption, alcohol consequences, alcohol expectancies, academic achievement, and student adaptation to college in first-year students. Method: Participants received Alcohol-Wise either prior to first semester or were wait-listed and received the intervention second semester. As longitudinal effectiveness was of interest, follow-up surveys were conducted 2.5 months (N = 76) and 6 months (N = 64) following the web-based alcohol intervention. Results: Findings showed that academic achievement was improved and alcohol consequences were reduced (marginal difference, p = 0.052) in participants who received the intervention first semester of their freshman year as compared to the waitlist control. Alcohol-Wise also reduced the incremental rise in heavy episodic drinking at both follow-ups for the groupmost proximal to receiving the intervention. Conclusions: These findings support continued study of the effectiveness of web-based alcohol prevention tools particularly concerning administration prior to both first and second semesters in first-year college students. Role of funding source: The current study was partially funded by 3rd Millennium Classrooms. 3rd Millennium Classrooms had no involvement in the design of the study, collection, analysis or interpretation of the data, the writing of the abstract, or the decision to submit the abstract. Conflict of Interest: All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 39 : 207A
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Herring, D., Dotson, K., Wiener, C., Somerstein, A., Hall, T., Bowers, C., Dunn, S., Dunn, M.
Among students in high school and college, alcohol use continues to be one of the most prevalent contributors to academic underachievement, interpersonal problems, injuries, and fatalities. One method that has been successful in reducing underage and risky alcohol use has focused on changing alcohol expectancies. Based on this concept, the Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) is a 45-min individual or group-delivered program that has been found to modify alcohol expectancies and reduce alcohol use. The ECALC has been successfully administered to students in public and private high schools, alternative schools, colleges, and notoriously higher risk individuals in college fraternities and sororities. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of the digitally assisted ECALC program with the well-validated BASICS program (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students). Participants were 122 students at a large state university who were mandated for assessment and intervention as a result of their having violated alcohol policies of the university or local laws. Students were randomly assigned to condition to receive either the ECALC, or the BASICS. Alcohol expectancies were assessed before and after completion of the ECALC and BASICS programs using the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Scale (CEOA). Alcohol consumption was measured at baseline and 30-day follow-up using a modified timeline follow-back procedure that required participants to record the number of standard drinks consumed and duration of each drinking episode. Analyses comparing those in the ECALC condition with those who received BASICS found significantly greater reductions on all four positive alcohol expectancy subscales for those in the ECALC condition. Analyses of alcohol use at follow-up comparing ECALC to BASICS found that students who received the ECALC reported significantly greater reductions in frequency of alcohol use (number of drinking days per month) and comparable reductions in typical alcohol use (mean BAC, average drinks per sitting, average drinks per week) and heavy alcohol use (peak BAC, peak drinks per sitting, number of binge episodes). In sum, the ECALC was found to be at least as effective as BASICS in reducing alcohol use among mandated students, and more effective in reducing positive alcohol expectancies that have been found to correspond to quantity and frequency of alcohol use.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 39 : 206A
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Motivational interviewing, includes Motivational Enhancing Therapy, Psychoeducation, Other Psychological Interventions, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Gilmore, A. K., Lewis, M. A., George, W. H.
Sexual assault risk reduction programs do not target alcohol use despite the widespread knowledge that alcohol use is a risk factor for being victimized. The current study assessed the effectiveness of a web-based combined sexual assault risk and alcohol use reduction program using a randomized control trial. A total of 207 college women between the ages of 18 and 20 who engaged in heavy episodic drinking were randomized to one of five conditions: full assessment only control condition, sexual assault risk reduction condition, alcohol use reduction condition, combined sexual assault risk and alcohol use reduction condition, and a minimal assessment only condition. Participants completed a 3-month follow-up survey on alcohol-related sexual assault outcomes, sexual assault outcomes, and alcohol use outcomes. Significant interactions revealed that women with higher severity of sexual assault at baseline experienced less incapacitated attempted or completed rapes, less severity of sexual assaults, and engaged in less heavy episodic drinking compared to the control condition at the 3-month follow-up. Web-based risk reduction programs targeting both sexual assault and alcohol use may be the most effective way to target the highest risk sample of college students for sexual assault: those with a sexual assault history and those who engage in heavy episodic drinking.
•We targeted alcohol use and sexual assault risk in college women.•Web-based personalized feedback was used in the intervention conditions.•Targeting both alcohol use and sexual assault risk reduced sexual re-victimization.•Dissemination of this intervention is promising for college campuses.
Behaviour Research & Therapy, 74 : 38-49
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Geisner, I. M., Varvil-Weld, L., Mittmann, A. J., Mallett, K., Turrisi, R.
College is a time of increased risk for problematic alcohol use and depressed mood. The comorbidity of these conditions is well documented, but is less well understood, with few interventions designed to prevent or reduce the related consequences. The current study evaluated a web-based personalized intervention for students (N = 311) who reported an AUDIT score of 8 or more, a BDI-II score of 14 or more, and reported drinking four (women) or five (men) or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past month. Method: Invited participants were randomly selected from all enrolled undergraduates at a large, public, Pacific Northwestern University. Participants completed a screening and baseline assessment, and those who met study eligibility criteria were randomized to one of four conditions (alcohol only, depressed mood only, integrated, and referral-only control). Follow-up occurred one-month post-intervention. Results: While no main effects for the interventions were found, there were moderation effects, such that students in the alcohol only and integrated conditions who had lower levels of depressed mood or alcohol-related problems at baseline showed greater reductions in alcohol-related problems at follow-up compared to students in the control condition. Implications for interventions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).
Addictive Behaviors, 42 : 36-43
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Depressive Disorders, Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Foxcroft, D. R., Moreira, M. T., Almeida-Santimano, N. M. L., Smith, L. A.
Background: Drinking is influenced by youth perceptions of how their peers drink. These perceptions are often incorrect, overestimating peer drinking norms. If inaccurate perceptions can be corrected, young people may drink less.; Objectives: To determine whether social norms interventions reduce alcohol-related negative consequences, alcohol misuse or alcohol consumption when compared with a control (ranging from assessment only/no intervention to other educational or psychosocial interventions) among university and college students.; Search Methods: The following electronic databases were searched up to July 2015: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO. The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) only to March 2008. Reference lists of included studies and review articles were manually searched. No restriction based on language or date was applied.; Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials or cluster-randomised controlled trials that compared a social normative intervention versus no intervention, alcohol education leaflet or other 'non-normative feedback' alcohol intervention and reported on alcohol consumption or alcohol-related problems in university or college students.; Data Collection and Analysis: We used standard methodological procedures as expected by Cochrane. Each outcome was analysed by mode of delivery: mailed normative feedback (MF); web/computer normative feedback (WF); individual face-to-face normative feedback (IFF); group face-to-face normative feedback (GFF); and normative marketing campaign (MC).; Main Results: A total of 70 studies (44,958 participants) were included in the review, and 63 studies (42,784 participants) in the meta-analyses. Overall, the risk of bias assessment showed that these studies provided moderate or low quality evidence.Outcomes at four or more months post-intervention were of particular interest to assess when effects were sustained beyond the immediate short term. We have reported pooled effects across delivery modes only for those analyses for which heterogeneity across delivery modes is not substantial (I(2) < 50%).Alcohol-related problems at four or more months: IFF standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.24 to -0.04 (participants = 2327; studies = 11; moderate quality evidence), equivalent to a decrease of 1.28 points in the 69-point alcohol problems scale score. No effects were found for WF or MF.Binge drinking at four or more months: results pooled across delivery modes: SMD -0.06, 95% CI -0.11 to -0.02 (participants = 11,292; studies = 16; moderate quality evidence), equivalent to 2.7% fewer binge drinkers if 30-day prevalence is 43.9%.Drinking quantity at four or more months: results pooled across delivery modes: SMD -0.08, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.04 (participants = 21,169; studies = 32; moderate quality evidence), equivalent to a reduction of 0.9 drinks consumed each week, from a baseline of 13.7 drinks per week.Drinking frequency at four or more months: WF SMD -0.11, 95% CI -0.17 to -0.04 (participants = 9929; studies = 10; moderate quality evidence), equivalent to a decrease of 0.17 drinking days/wk, from a baseline of 2.74 days/wk; IFF SMD -0.21, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.10 (participants = 1464; studies = 8; moderate quality evidence), equivalent to a decrease of 0.32 drinking days/wk, from a baseline of 2.74 days/wk. No effects were found for GFF or MC.Estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at four or more months: peak BAC results pooled across delivery modes: SMD -0.08, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.00 (participants = 7198; studies = 11; low quality evidence), equivalent to a reduction in peak BAC from an average of 0.144% to 0.135%. No effects were found for typical BAC with IFF.; Authors' Conclusions: The results of this review indicate that no substantive meaningful benefits are associated with social norms interventions for prevention of alcohol misuse among college/university students. Although some significant effects were found we interpret the effect sizes as too small, given the measurement scales used in the studies included in this review, to be of relevance for policy or practice. Moreover, the significant effects are not consistent for all misuse measures, heterogeneity was a problem in some analyses and bias cannot be discounted as a potential cause of these findings.;
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12) : CD006748
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Foster, D. W., Neighbors, C., Pai, A.
Background: This study evaluated a decisional balance intervention among heavy drinking undergraduates and compared a nonweighted decisional balance proportion (DBP; Collins, Carey, & Otto, 2009) to a participant-weighted DBP with weights based on relative importance of items. We expected: (1) the intervention to decrease drinking compared to control; (2) the weighted intervention to be more effective compared to the nonweighted or control in reducing drinking; and (3) intervention efficacy to be moderated by initial DBP.; Method: Participants (N = 162, Mean age = 24.37, SD = 6.81, 27% male) were randomly assigned to an alcohol intervention wherein they were either asked to assign weights of importance to pros and cons (weighted intervention), or not (nonweighted intervention), or to control. Participants completed web-based questionnaires at baseline and again during a one month follow-up assessment.; Results: Consistent with expectations, the nonweighted intervention was associated with reduced follow-up weekly drinking, and the weighted intervention was associated with reductions in drinking frequency. Results further indicated that initial decisional balance did not moderate intervention efficacy.; Discussion: Findings suggest that the decisional balance procedure can reduce drinking but there was not compelling evidence for the addition of weights. This study lays the groundwork for enhancing future interventions by increasing empirical knowledge of the role motivation plays in heavy alcohol use.;
Substance Use & Misuse, 50(13) : 1717-1727
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Dedert, E. A., McDuffie, J. R., Stein, R., McNiel, J. M., Kosinski, A. S., Freiermuth, C. E., Hemminger, A., Williams, J. W.
Background: The use of electronic interventions (e-interventions) may improve treatment of alcohol misuse. Purpose: To characterize treatment intensity and systematically review the evidence for efficacy of e-interventions, relative to controls, for reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related impairment in adults and college students. Data Sources: MEDLINE (via PubMed) from January 2000 to March 2015 and the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PsycINFO from January 2000 to August 2014. Study Selection: English-language, randomized, controlled trials that involved at least 50 adults who misused alcohol; compared an e-intervention group with a control group; and reported outcomes at 6 months or longer. Data Extraction: Two reviewers abstracted data and independently rated trial quality and strength of evidence. Data Synthesis: In 28 unique trials, the modal e-intervention was brief feedback on alcohol consumption. Available data suggested a small reduction in consumption (approximately 1 drink per week) in adults and college students at 6 months but not at 12 months. There was no statistically significant effect on meeting drinking limit guidelines in adults or on binge-drinking episodes or social consequences of alcohol in college students. Limitations: E-interventions that ranged in intensity were combined in analyses. Quantitative results do not apply to short-term outcomes or alcohol use disorders. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that low-intensity e-inter ventions produce small reductions in alcohol consumption at 6 months, but there is little evidence for longer-term, clinically significant effects, such as meeting drinking limits. Future e-interventions could provide more intensive treatment and possibly human support to assist persons in meeting recommended drinking limits.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 163(3) : 205-214
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
, Disorder established (diagnosed disorder)
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Dotson, K., Pozo, M., Flanagan, M., Bowers, C., Dunn, M.
Personalized normative feedback (PNF) has shown promise as a stand-alone intervention for reducing alcohol use among college students. PNF uses norms clarification to correct drinking norms misperceptions by highlighting discrepancies between personal alcohol use, perceived peer alcohol use, and actual peer alcohol use. Previous reviews of personalized feedback interventions have identified norms clarification as key a component, prompting researchers to study PNF as a single component intervention for college drinking. As the number of publications focused on PNF effectiveness has increased in recent years, an empirical review of these studies is warranted to assess the potential impact of PNF as a stand-alone program. The purpose of the present study was to summarize available research and to perform a meta-analytic review of personalized normative feedback as a stand-alone intervention for college student drinking. Studies were included if they examined a stand-alone PNF drinking intervention, used a college student sample, reported alcohol use outcomes, and used a pre-post experimental design with follow-up at least 28 days post-intervention. Eight studies (13 interventions) completed between 2004 and 2014 met criteria for inclusion, with a total of 2,050 participants. Effect size estimates (ESs) were calculated as the standardized mean difference in change scores between the treatment and control groups divided by the pooled standard deviation (Cohen's d). A random effects model with inverse variance weighting procedures was used to calculate ESs. Studies that used gender-specific norms were analyzed separately from studies that used gender-neutral norms. Compared to control participants, students who received PNF reported a greater reduction in drinking from baseline to follow-up. Results were similar for both gender-neutral and gender-specific PNF. Overall, intervention effects for drinking were small but reliable. This study offers an empirical summary of stand-alone PNF for college student drinking and provides a foundation for future research.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 39 : 206A
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Durand, Z., Cook, A., Konishi, M., Nigg, C.
This article provides a literature review of recent programs to prevent alcohol and substance use in Hawaii and Pacific Islander youths. Five programs for alcohol and substance use prevention among Hawaii and Pacific Islander youths were found in peer-reviewed literature. Of these, two focused on Native Hawaiians and/or other Pacific Islanders and three focused on overall youths in Hawaii. The main themes of these programs were increasing cultural pride, character development through personal efficacy and integrity, connecting youth to family and community, and being school- or community-centered. Two studies showed a decrease in substance use, one showed a change in knowledge, and two did not published outcomes. This review highlights a lack of evidence-based culturally appropriate options for preventing substance use by Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander youth. Dialogue about best practices is needed and should be supported through publication of program evaluations.
Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse, : 1-12
- Year: 2015
- Problem: Substance Use Disorders (any), Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: Universal prevention
, At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)