Disorders - Alcohol Use
York, Valerie K., Brannon, Laura A., Miller, Megan M.
This study addressed the serious problem of college student binge drinking by identifying factors that improve the effectiveness of messages encouraging responsible drinking presented through a website simulation. We tested schema matching (i.e., whether the message matches the person's self-schema type or not) and two types of context matching (i.e., whether the message matches the topic or values of the message context) to determine their relative influence on the effectiveness of the message. We expected that messages matched to any of these factors would be more effective than messages not matched. Schema matching reduced intentions to drink while staying in/home, but topic matching reduced intentions to drink when going out, suggesting that different factors are important for messages targeting drinking behavior in different locations. Significant interactions between topic matching and value matching on message evaluation variables indicated that the message should not match the message context too closely. That is, there appears to be a matching threshold: Increasing the number of factors the message matches does not increase message effectiveness, possibly because it makes the message too redundant with the surrounding content.;
Health Communication, 27(3) : 302-309
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Yuma-Guerrero, Paula J., Lawson, Karla A., Velasquez, Mary M., von Sternberg, Kirk, Maxson, Todd, Garcia, Nilda
Background and Objective: Alcohol use by adolescents is widespread and is connected to a number of negative health and social outcomes. Adolescents receiving emergent care for injuries are often linked with risky use of alcohol. The trauma system has widely adopted the use of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for preventing alcohol-related injury recidivism and other negative outcomes. The purpose of this article is to review the evidence around SBIRT with adolescent patients in acute care settings. Methods: This article reviews 7 randomized controlled trials evaluating risky drinking interventions among adolescent patients in acute care settings. All studies took place in the emergency departments of level I trauma centers. Results: Four of the 7 studies reviewed demonstrated a significant intervention effect; however, no one intervention reduced both alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Two of these 4 studies only included patients ages 18 and older. Subgroup analyses with adolescents engaged in risky alcohol-related behaviors, conducted in 2 of the studies, showed significant intervention effects. Five studies showed positive consumption and/or consequences for all study participants regardless of condition, suggesting that an emergent injury and/or the screening process may have a protective effect. Conclusions: Based on existing evidence, it is not clear whether SBIRT is an effective approach to risky alcohol use among adolescent patients in acute care. Additional research is needed around interventions and implementation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Pediatrics, 130(1) : 115-122
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Scott-Sheldon, Lori A. J., Terry, Danielle L., Carey, Kate B., Garey, Lorra, Carey, Michael P.
Interventions challenging alcohol expectancies may lead to reductions in alcohol consumption. We conducted a meta-analysis to examine the efficacy of alcohol expectancy challenge (EC) interventions for college alcohol abuse prevention. Included were 14 studies (19 EC interventions) that measured alcohol expectancies and consumption, provided sufficient information to calculate effect sizes, and were available as of June 2010 (N = 1,415; M age = 20 years; 40% women; 88% White). Independent raters coded participant characteristics, design and methodological features, and intervention content, and calculated weighted mean effect sizes at first follow-up, using both fixed and random effects models. Compared with controls, EC participants reported lower positive alcohol expectancies, reduced their alcohol use, and reduced their frequency of heavy drinking (d+s ranged from 0.23 to 0.28). Within-group improvements in alcohol expectancies and consumption emerged for the EC group only; relative to their own baseline, EC participants reported lower positive alcohol expectancies, reduced their alcohol use, and reduced their frequency of heavy drinking (d+s ranged from 0.13 to 0.36). Supplemental analyses found improvements in specific alcohol expectancies (social, sexual, tension, and arousal) both between groups and within group. The short-term effects of EC interventions on college student drinking are not maintained at follow-ups greater than 4 weeks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(3) : 393-405
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Lane, D., Lindemann, D., Schmidt, J.
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has called for the use of evidence-based approaches to address high-risk drinking prevalent on many college campuses. In line with this recommendation, the present study evaluated the efficacy of two evidence-based approaches to reducing alcohol use. One hundred and three college students in first-year experience courses were randomly assigned by class to participate in a computer-assisted online program (e-Chug Group), skills training program (Self-Management Group), or control condition (Exercise Group). The data indicate that heavier drinkers benefited from the e-Chug program, whereas lighter drinkers benefited from the self-management program. As such, colleges may yield more favorable results when forgoing a blanket approach to decreasing alcohol consumption in favor of matching students with an appropriate alcohol program. (copyright) 2012, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.
Journal of Drug Education, 42(2) : 119-135
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Skills training, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
, Physical activity, exercise, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Larimer, M., Lewis, M., Lee, C., Kilmer, J., Atkins, D., Neighbors, C., LaBrie, J., et-al
Normative influences are important in understanding and reducing college student drinking. Both descriptive (perceptions of how much other people drink) and injunctive (perceptions of others' approval of drinking) norms are associated with personal alcohol use; however both types of norms are often misperceived. Students believe the nulltypicalnull student drinks more and has higher approval of drinking compared to their own drinking and actual drinking and approval rates in campus surveys. Providing personalized normative feedback (PNF), which compares perceived norms to actual norms and participants' own drinking, has been shown to reduce alcohol use. However, most studies only provide descriptive norms PNF, rather than injunctive norms PNF or the combination of both types of norms. Little research has evaluated whether or not descriptive and injunctive norms have unique or synergistic effects on alcohol use, or whether the combination of both norms possibly reduces the efficacy of descriptive PNF due to the possibility of reactivity to the judgmental connotation of what others nullapprove ofnull. The current RCT evaluated these questions. Preliminary analyses examined treatment differences on drinking (DDQ) and consequences (RAPI) at 3 months post-intervention. Participants (N=935 at-risk drinkers) were randomized to an attention control, injunctive PNF (INJ), descriptive PNF (DESC), or both injunctive and descriptive norms feedback (BOTH). Both the DDQ and RAPI distributions showed notable stacks of zero values, and hence a two-part (or hurdle) model was used for analyses. Hurdle models simultaneously fit a logit model for zero vs. non-zero, as well as a truncated count regression for the nonzero outcomes. These two parts map closely to outcomes often constructed from drinking data (e.g., any drinking (yes/no) and drinking on drinking days). All three treatment groups led to reductions in drinking on drinking days relative to control (INJ: RR = .87, p = .02; DESC: RR = .86, p = .01; BOTH: RR = .83, p < .01). In addition, the INJ condition led to a reduction in any drinking (OR = 0.42, p = .03). The INJ condition showed a trend for reducing any alcohol-related problems (OR = .64, p = .09). Results suggest both types of PNF impact drinking, with no advantage or disadvantage of the combination, though injunctive feedback may be associated with larger effects on abstinence and consequences. Results from a 12-month follow-up assessment will also be discussed.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 36 : 86A
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Linowski, S., DiFulvio, G., Fedorchak, D.
In the United States, arrests and campus alcohol and drug policy violations have led college administrators to focus on the development, effectiveness, and sustainability of intervention programs. Recent research indicates that personalized feedback, whether delivered in person or electronically, is effective in reducing alcohol use and abuse as well as correcting misperceived norms. For these reasons, institutions of higher education have quickly adopted brief motivational interventions such as BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students) to address alcohol abuse among students. A number of studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of BASICS in reducing alcohol consumption and related consequences among policy violators. However, the effectiveness of a second personalized feedback mechanism in either maintaining a reduction or further reducing high-risk drinking is less researched. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of computerdelivered personalized feedback (electronic booster) delivered to policy violators after completing a mandated BASICS program. At 3-months post-intervention, 346 participants (60.4% male and 39.6% female) were randomized to one of two conditions: assessment only (n=171) or electronic booster feedback (n=175). Follow-up assessments were given to all participants at 3, 6, and 12 months post-initial intervention. Measures included typical and peak estimated BAC, typical and peak number of drinks when partying, typical number of drinks per week, number of drinks in a peak drinking week, binge and frequent binge. The Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (YAACQ) was used to measure consequences of use. Both groups showed reductions in drinking after the in-person BASICS intervention, but no additional reductions were seen with the addition of an electronic booster session. Our findings suggest that although BMIs delivered in person to mandated students have been shown to be effective with mandated students, there is no additional benefit from an electronic booster session delivered three months post intervention for this population.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 36 : 355A
- Year: 2012
- 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, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Litt, D. M., Lewis, M. A., Atkins, D. C., Kim, T.
Although a robust line of research has shown that personalized normative feedback interventions are effective at reducing high-risk drinking behavior and are mediated by reductions in normative perceptions, far less is known regarding the efficacy of personalized normative feedback interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related risky sexual behavior. The purpose of the present study was to develop an efficacious webbased intervention for alcohol-related risky sexual behavior and determine whether an intervention specifically targeting alcohol-related risky sexual behavior is necessary, or if reducing drinking behavior alone is sufficient at reducing alcohol-related risky sexual behavior. A particularly innovative aspect of the present research is that all assessment and intervention procedures were web-based and represent a novel method for reducing alcohol-related risky sexual behavior among college students. In order to test these research questions, we conducted a randomized controlled trial in which 479 heavydrinking, heterosexual, sexually-active college students were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: an alcohol only intervention, a risky sexual behavior only intervention, a combined alcohol and risky sexual behavior intervention, or an attention control group. Assessments of alcohol use and risky sexual behavior were conducted at baseline and at three and six months post-intervention. Results indicated a significant reduction in drinking outcomes for the alcohol only and the combined alcohol and risky sexual behavior interventions relative to control, with most drinking related effects remaining significant at the six-month assessment. Results also demonstrated a significant reduction in alcoholrelated risky sexual behavior for the risky sexual behavior only and the combined alcohol and risky sexual behavior interventions relative to control, with intervention effects only seen at the 3-month follow-up assessment. In contrast, the alcohol only intervention did not impact alcohol-related risky sexual behavior. Finally, in support of previous research evaluating personalized normative feedback interventions, results suggested evidence of mediation such that the reduction of alcohol-related sexual risk behavior operated through a reduction in normative perceptions. Overall, these findings support the use of a webbased personalized normative feedback intervention to reduce alcohol-related risky sexual behavior and demonstrate that personalized normative feedback specific to drinking in sexual situations was needed to reduce alcohol-related risky sexual behavior.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 36 : 86A
- Year: 2012
- 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)
Mares, S. H. W., van-der-Vorst, H., Vermeulen-Smit, E., Lichtwarck-Aschoff, A., Verdurmen, J. E. E., Engels, R. C. M. E.
More than 50% of Dutch 12-year olds already started drinking. Since it is known that delaying the onset of alcohol use results in a lower risk of alcohol-related problems, the recently developed 'In control: No alcohol!' prevention program is targeted at elementary school children and their mothers. In this pilot study, the success of program implementation and impact of the program on quality of alcohol-specific communication, rules and monitoring were evaluated, using a randomized controlled design. A total of 108 children (11 - 12 years) and their mothers participated in the prevention program, while the control group consisted of 105 dyads. Families participating in the experimental condition showed an increase in frequency of alcohol-specific communication and 75% of the dyads reported that they took part in at least 3 of 5 magazines, suggesting implementation was successful. The program led to an increase in quality of communication but only for those dyads in which mothers' alcohol use was above average. The program led parents to set up a non-drinking contract with their children and to monitor their children more closely. Results are promising but need to be replicated in a larger longitudinal study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Health Education Research, 27(2) : 214-225
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: Universal prevention
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Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Menrath, I., Mueller-Godeffroy, E., Pruessmann, C., Ravens-Sieberer, U., Ottova, V., Pruessmann, M., Erhart, M., et-al
Aim: Previous studies have demonstrated a positive effect of school-based life skills programmes on the prevention of substance abuse and other health-risk behaviours in children and adolescents. However, the comparison and interpretation of study results is difficult due to methodological problems. In particular, the effectiveness of such programmes within high-risk groups remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated the effects of two school-based life skills programmes on substance abuse and subjective health in a sample with a high proportion of socially disadvantaged pupils. Subjects and methods: We conducted a randomised controlled intervention study with repeated measurements over time. The sample included pupils of secondary schools in northern Germany with an overrepresentation of pupils with low socioeconomic status. We evaluated effects of the programmes on substance abuse and psychosocial outcomes. In addition, we conducted a process evaluation. Results: The sample included 102 classes with a total of 1,561 pupils. Twenty-five per cent of the pupils were of a low socioeconomic status. We found significant positive effects regarding the reduction of smoking and some improvements in the pupils' life skills in the intervention group compared to the control group. Socioeconomic status had no moderating effect on the results. Conclusion: School-based life skills programmes have a positive effect on smoking prevention regardless of socioeconomic status. Socially disadvantaged children benefit from such programmes to a similar extent as other pupils. Pupils and teachers appreciate the programmes. A supportive school environment appears to be an important factor in the successful implementation of school-based life skills programmes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Journal of Public Health, 20(2) : 159-170
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Kenney, S. R.
Employing protective behavioral strategies (PBS; e.g., determining not to exceed set number of drinks) has been associated with lower consumption levels and fewer alcohol consequences among college students. Although education about PBS is routinely incorporated into multicomponent alcohol interventions, no studies have examined skills training of PBS as a standalone group intervention. Further, preliminary findings demonstrating that the natural use of PBS appear particularly beneficial in reducing risk among students with poorer mental health highlight the need to explore the utility PBS interventions for these students. Not only are students with poorer mental health increasingly prevalent on college campuses, but these students are at heightened risk for negative alcohol outcomes. The current project assessed a 40-minute PBSspecific group cognitive-behavioral skills training intervention aimed at increasing PBS use and decreasing heavy drinking and consequences in first-year college women. The present findings examined the first of two years of data collection. Of 449 students who completed the online screening survey, only those reporting having consumed four or more drinks per occasion in the past month (49%) were invited to continue participation. The present analyses include 128 participants-randomized into either a PBS treatment (N=72) or study skills control (N=58) condition-who attended an intervention and completed a 1-month online post-intervention survey. A series of 2x2 repeated measures ANOVAs with intervention (control, treatment) and time (baseline, 1-month) as the independent variables demonstrated intervention efficacy. Significant Intervention X Time effects emerged with respect to the following dependent variables: PBS (p < .05), peak drinks on one event (p < .05), and negative consequences (p < .05). Post-hoc tests confirmed that treatment participants significantly increased PBS use (p < .05), and reduced peak drinks (p < .01) and negative consequences (p < .05). Moreover, using 2x2x2 ANOVAs, there were significant three-way Intervention X Time X Anxiety interactions for PBS use (p < .05) and consequences (p < .05), such that the treatment appeared particular beneficial for those reporting higher (as compared to lower) levels of anxiety. This brief, easy to implement, and cost-effective intervention may be easily transportable to other university settings and offers considerable potential to advance alcohol prevention efforts.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 36 : 355A
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Skills training, Other Psychological Interventions
Fried, A. B.
The Expectancy Challenge Alcohol Literacy Curriculum (ECALC) is a single session group-delivered program designed to modify alcohol expectancy processes and reduce alcohol use among children and young adults. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ECALC in reducing risky alcohol use among heavy drinking college men. Four fraternities at a large state university were randomly assigned to receive either the single session ECALC or a control presentation (2 fraternity houses per condition, n = 250). Alcohol expectancies were assessed before and immediately after program presentation. Results demonstrated significant changes on 5 of the 7 subscales of the Comprehensive Effects of Alcohol Scale (CEOA) among students who received the ECALC when compared with control participants. Alcohol use data were collected for 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after program presentation. Compared with those in the control condition, students who received the ECALC demonstrated significant reductions in all facets of alcohol use measured, including decreased mean and peak blood alcohol content (BAC), decreased mean number of days drinking per week, decreased mean drinks per sitting, and decreased number of binge-drinking episodes per month. This study represents 2 important advances. First is the significant reduction in risky alcohol use produced by a single session group-delivered program. The second important advance is the success in changing expectancy processes without using impractical elements common in previous expectancy challenge methods (e.g., a "barlab" environment and actual alcohol administration). (copyright) 2012 American Psychological Association.
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 26(3) : 615-620
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Penetar, David M., Toto, Lindsay H., Farmer, Stacey L., Lee, David Y. W., Ma, Zhongze, Liu, Yanze, Lukas, Scott E.
Background: Isoflavone compounds naturally occurring in the root of the kudzu plant have been used historically to treat alcohol-related problems. A pilot study was conducted to assess the effects of one primary isoflavone - puerarin - for its ability to modify alcohol intake in humans. Methods: Ten (10) healthy adult volunteers were administered puerarin (1200 mg daily) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design experiment for one week prior to an afternoon drinking session lasting 1.5 h. Participants had access to up to six bottles of their preferred brand of beer in addition to juice and water. A time course of drinking, sip volumes, and total amount consumed were recorded. Results: Participants consumed on average 3.5 (± 0.55) beers when treated with placebo and 2.4 (± 0.41) beers when treated with puerarin. In contrast to drinking following placebo treatment when 3 participants drank 5 beers and 1 participant drank all 6 beers, none drank 5 or 6 beers when treated with puerarin. Drinking topography also changed. When treated with puerarin, participants decreased sip size, took more sips to finish a beer, and took longer to consume each beer. Additionally, after finishing a beer, latency to opening the next beer was increased. Conclusions: This study is the first demonstration that a single isoflavone found in the kudzu root can alter alcohol drinking in humans. These results suggest that alcohol consumption patterns are influenced by puerarin administration and this botanical medication may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of excessive alcohol intake. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 126(1-2) : 251-256
- Year: 2012
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
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Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
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Treatment and intervention: Complementary & Alternative Interventions (CAM)
, Homeopathic, plant-based medicines