Disorders - Alcohol Use
Moreira, M. T., Smith, L. A., Foxcroft, D.
Background: Drinking is influenced by youth (mis)perceptions of how their peers drink. If misperceptions can be corrected, young people may drink less. Objectives: To determine whether social norms feedback reduces alcohol misuse in university or college students. Search strategy: Cochrane Drugs and Alcohol Group Register of Trials; Central; MEDLINE; EMBASE; PsyInfo; CINAHL (up to March 2008). Selection criteria: RCT or cluster RCT that evaluate social normative intervention with no intervention, alcohol education leaflet or other non-normative feedback intervention Data collection and analysis: 2/3 authors extracted data. Included studies were assessed against criteria indicated in the Cochrane Reviewers Handbook version 5.0.0. Main results: Twenty-two studies were included (7,275 participants). Alcohol related problems: Significant reduction with Web/computer feedback (WF) (SMD -0.31 95% Cl -0.59 to -0.02), three studies, 278 participants. No significant effect of mailed feedback (MF), individual face-to-face feedback (IFF) or group face-to-face feedback (GFF). Peak Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) : Significant reduction with WF (SMD-0.77 95% Cl -1.25 to -0.28), two studies, 198 participants. No significant effect of MF or IFF. Drinking Frequency: Significant reduction with WF (SMD -0.38 95% Cl -0.63 to -0.13), two studies, 243 participants and IFF (SMD -0.39 95% Cl -0.66 to -0.12), two studies, 217 participants. No significant effect of MF. Drinking Quantity: Significant reduction with WF (SMD -0.35 95% Cl -0.51 to -0.18), five studies, 556 participants and GFF (SMD -0.32 95% Cl -0.63 to -0.02) three studies, 173 participants. No significant effect of MF or IF. Binge drinking: Significant reduction with WF (SMD -0.47 95% Cl -0.92 to -0.03) one study, 80 participants, IFF (SMD -0.25 95% Cl -0.49 to -0.02) three studies, 278 participants and and GFF (SMD -0.38 95% Cl -0.62 to -0.14) four studies, 264 participants. No significant effect for MF. BAC: No significant effect of MF and IFF Drinking norms: Significant reduction with WF (SMD -0.75 95% Cl -0.98 to -0.52 ) three studies, 312 participants. Authors' conclusions: WF and IFF are probably effective in reducing alcohol misuse. No direct comparisons of WF against IFF were found, but WF impacted across a broader set of outcomes and is less costly so therefore might be preferred. Significant effects were more apparent for short-term outcomes (up to three months). For mailed and group feedback, and social norms marketing campaigns, the results are on the whole not significant and therefore cannot be recommended. Copyright (copyright) 2009 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (3) :
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Wenzel, V., Weichold, K., Silbereisen, R. K.
The present study investigated whether a life skills program (LSP) for the prevention of adolescent substance misuse can have positive influences on a school context and on school bonding. The study also explored whether effects on alcohol use are mediated by positive effects on school bonding resulting from program participation. The LSP IPSY (Information + Psychosocial Competence = Protection) was implemented over a 3-year period via specially trained teachers. Analyses were based on a German evaluation study utilizing a quasi-experimental design (intervention/control) with school-wise assignment to the respective groups. Analyses were based on four measurement points (N = 952, 10 years at pre-test). Results indicated that IPSY was well implemented, highly accepted by teachers and students, and that teachers profited regarding their teaching methods. ANCOVAS revealed positive program effects on alcohol use and school bonding. Multiple regressions indicated that positive influences on school bonding following program participation partially mediated effects on alcohol use. (copyright) 2009 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.
Journal of Adolescence, 32(6) : 1391-1401
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training
van-Lier, P. A. C., Huizink, A., Crijnen, A.
The distal impact of a school based universal preventive intervention targeting disruptive behavior problems on tobacco and alcohol use from age 10 to 13 years was explored. Second grade classrooms (children aged 7 years) were randomly assigned to the intervention or a control condition. Tobacco and alcohol use from age 10 to 13 years was available for 477 children (72% of original sample). The impact of intervention on the initial level and growth in probability of substance use was explored. Results showed that intervention children had lower probabilities of tobacco use over the ages 10-13 years. This effect remains significant when controlling for (male) sex, pre-intervention levels of conduct problems, exposure to prenatal smoking or current parental smoking. For alcohol use, no effect of intervention during childhood was found. However, intervention children reported having a lower probability in alcohol use with age among those children reporting having used in the last week. The results underscore the importance of the early prevention of disruptive behavior problems substance use initiation. Implications for prevention and research are discussed. (copyright) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 100(3) : 228-233
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Vogl, Laura, Teesson, Maree, Andrews, Gavin, Bird, Kevin, Steadman, Bronwyn, Dillon, Paul
Aims: Design: Setting: Participants: Measurements: Findings: Conclusions: Hazardous alcohol use is a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults world-wide, yet few effective prevention interventions exist. This study was the first to examine a computerized harm minimization intervention to reduce alcohol misuse and related harms in adolescents.Cluster randomized controlled trial of a six-session curriculum-integrated harm minimization prevention program. The intervention was delivered by computer in the form of a teenage drama, which provided education through alcohol-related scenarios to which young people could relate.Schools in Australia.A total of 1466 year 8 students (13 years) from 16 high schools in Australia were allocated randomly to a computerized prevention program (n = 611, eight schools) or usual classes (n = 855, eight schools).Change in knowledge, alcohol use, alcohol-related harms and alcohol expectancies.A computerized prevention program was more effective than usual classes in increasing alcohol-related knowledge of facts that would inform safer drinking choices and decreasing the positive social expectations which students believed alcohol may afford. For females it was effective in decreasing average alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms and the frequency of drinking to excess (more than four standard drinks; 10 g ethanol). For males the behavioural effects were not significant.A harm minimization approach is effective in educating young people about alcohol-related risks and is effective in reducing risky drinking and harms among girls. Reduction of problems among boys remains a challenge.
Addiction (Abingdon, England), 104(4) : 564-575
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Newton, Nicola C., Vogl, Laura E., Teesson, Maree, Andrews, Gavin
Objective: The aim of the present study was to conduct a cross-validation trial of the efficacy of a computerized school-based intervention for alcohol misuse in adolescents. Method: A cluster randomized control trial was carried out. Intervention and control groups were assessed at baseline, immediately after and 6 months after the intervention. A total of 764 Year 8 students from 10 independent secondary schools in Sydney, Australia participated in the study. Half of the schools were randomly allocated to the computerized prevention program (n = 397), and half to their usual classes (n = 367). The six-lesson computerized intervention was evidence and curriculum based while having a focus on harm-minimization. Knowledge, expectancies, alcohol consumption (frequency, quantity and binging), patterns of use, and harms associated with one's own use of alcohol were assessed. Results: There were significant improvements in knowledge regarding alcohol use at immediate and 6 month follow up. Average weekly alcohol consumption was reduced immediately after the intervention. No differences between groups were found on alcohol expectancies, frequency of drinking to excess and harms related to alcohol use over time. Conclusions: The present results support the Clinical Management and Treatment Education (CLIMATE) Schools: alcohol module as an effective intervention in increasing alcohol knowledge and reducing alcohol use in the short term. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)
Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 43(3) : 201-207
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Service Delivery & Improvement, Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training, Technology, interventions delivered using technology (e.g. online, SMS)
Morgenstern, Matthis, Wiborg, Gudrun, Isensee, Barbara, Hanewinkel, Reiner
Objective: Design: Setting: Measures: Results: Conclusions: This study aimed to examine the effects of a school-based alcohol education intervention.Two-arm three-wave cluster-randomized controlled trial, with schools as the unit for randomization. Surveys were conducted prior to intervention implementation, then 4 and 12 months after baseline.A total of 30 public schools in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Participants Baseline data were obtained from 1686 7th graders. The retention rate was 85% over 12 months. Intervention The intervention consisted of four interactive lessons conducted by teachers, booklets for students and booklets for parents.Knowledge, attitudes, life-time alcohol consumption (ever use alcohol without parental knowledge, ever been drunk and ever binge drinking) and past-month alcohol use.Intention-to-treat analyses revealed that intervention status was associated with more general knowledge about alcohol and lower levels of life-time binge drinking. No effects were found with respect to students' self-reported attitudes, intentions to drink, life-time alcohol use and past-month alcohol use.The results indicate that this brief school-based intervention had a small short-term preventive effect on alcohol misuse.
Addiction (Abingdon, England), 104(3) : 402-412
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training
Friedman, Z. D., Epstein, E. E., Mun, E. Y., White, H. R.
This study aimed to investigate whether pre-college drinking is differentially associated with the efficacy of personalized feedback interventions (PFIs), and whether the timing of being mandated to treatment for alcohol misuse during the transition to college (first semester of freshman year) versus later (second semester of freshman year or later) plays a moderating role in differential treatment outcomes measured by heavy episodic drinking (HED). In addition, this study aimed to examine whether interaction effects existed between pre-college drinking and college transition on treatment efficacy, and whether the interaction effects differed across two types of PFIs: a written personalized feedback intervention with an in-person brief motivational interview (BMI) versus written feedback only (WF). Participants in the current study were 348 students at a large public university who had been caught violating the university's alcohol and drug policy and were mandated to receive alcohol and drug use counseling. Participants completed a computerized assessment of their drinking modeled after the Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) and were then randomized either to a BMI in which participants met individually with a counselor and discussed their personalized feedback, or to a WF condition in which they received a written personalized feedback only. One hundred eighty students (52%) received the BMI treatment, while 168 students (48%) received the WF treatment. Preliminary analysis using multiple regressions indicated that after taking into account baseline HED and gender, pre-college alcohol use frequency significantly predicted higher levels of HED at 15 months post intervention. There were no differences in HED at 15 months post intervention between those who were mandated during the first semester in college and those mandated later. Interaction effects between pre-college drinking and college transition status on treatment outcome were not evident. Furthermore, those students with higher levels of pre-college drinking did not benefit more from a BMI than from a WF. The stability and continuity factor in alcohol use trajectories from high school to college appears more important than developmental transition effects on treatment outcomes in response to a substance use intervention among mandated college students.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 33 : 51A
- Year: 2009
- 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
LaBrie, J. W., Huchting, K. K., Lac, A., Tawalbeh, S., Thompson, A. D., Larimer, M. E.
OBJECTIVE: Female college students have increased their alcohol consumption rates. The current study sought to replicate the effectiveness of a female-specific motivational-enhancement group intervention and extended previous work by adding a 6-month follow-up. The intervention included several motivational-enhancement components delivered in a group setting and included a group discussion of female-specific reasons for drinking. METHOD: Participants were 285 first-year college women. Data collection consisted of an online pre-intervention questionnaire, 10 weeks of online follow-up assessment, and a 6-month online follow-up. Using a randomized design, participants chose a group session, blind to treatment status. Held during the first weeks of the first semester, 159 participants received the intervention and 126 participants received an assessment-only control. RESULTS: Using a repeated-measures analysis of covariance, intervention participants consumed significantly less than control participants on drinks per week (F = 11.86, 1/252 df, p < .001), maximum drinks (F = 11.90, 1/252 df, p < .001), and heavy episodic drinking events (F = 20.14, 1/252 df, p < .001) across 10 weeks of follow-up. However, these effects did not persist at the 6-month follow-up. Moderation effects were found for social motives on all drinking variables, such that the intervention was most effective for those women with higher social motives for drinking. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy was found for a female-specific motivational group intervention in creating less risky drinking patterns among first-year women, especially women with social motives for drinking. The effect dissipated by the second semester, suggesting the need for maintenance or booster sessions.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol & Drugs. Supplement, (16) : 77-85
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Motivational interviewing, includes Motivational Enhancing Therapy
LaChance, Heather, Feldstein Ewing, Sarah W., Bryan, Angela D., Hutchison, Kent E.
Nationally, college drinkers exhibit the highest rates of alcohol consumption and represent the largest percentage of problem drinkers. Group motivational enhancement therapy (GMET) has been found to catalyze problem drinking reductions among college student samples. Although research supporting the use of single-session GMET in college samples (general and mandated) is emergent, no studies have evaluated a comprehensive model of the potential active ingredients of this group intervention. College students (N = 206; 88% White; 63% men; M age = 18.6) mandated to a university alcohol diversion program were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 conditions: the standard-of-care 2-session "Focus on Alcohol Concerns" education group (FAC), a single GMET, or a single alcohol information-only control group (AI) to evaluate the role of 5 putative mediators: readiness to change, self-efficacy, perceived risk, norm estimates, and positive drinking expectancies. At 3- and 6-month follow-ups, GMET students demonstrated greater reductions in problem drinking outcomes (drinks per drinking day, hazardous drinking symptoms, and alcohol-related problems). Of the 5 mediators proposed, only self-efficacy emerged as a significant mediator.
Copyright 2009 APA
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 23(4) : 598-612
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Motivational interviewing, includes Motivational Enhancing Therapy, Psychoeducation
Schaus, James F., Sole, Mary Lou, McCoy, Thomas P., Mullett, Natalie, O'Brien, Mary Claire
Objective: Method: Results: Conclusions: This study tested the effectiveness of brief primary care provider interventions delivered in a college student health center to a sample of college students who screened positive for high-risk drinking.Between November 2005 and August 2006, 8,753 students who presented as new patients to the health service at a large public university were screened for high-risk drinking, and 2,484 students (28%) screened positive on the 5/4 gender-specific high-risk drinking question (i.e., five or more drinks per occasion for men and four or more for women). Students who screened positive for high-risk drinking and consented to participate (N= 363; 52% female) were randomly assigned either to a control group (n = 182) or to an experimental group (n = 181). Participants in the experimental group received two brief intervention sessions that were founded in motivational interviewing techniques and delivered by four specially trained providers within the student health center. Data on alcohol use and related harms were obtained from a Web-based Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire, 30-day Timeline Followback alcohol-use diaries, the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI), and eight items from the Drinker Inventory of Consequences-2L.Repeated measures analysis showed that, compared with the control group (C), the intervention group (I) had significant reductions in typical estimated blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (C = .071 vs I = .057 at 3 months; C = .073 vs I = .057 at 6 months), peak BAC (C = . 142 vs I = .112 at 3 months; C = .145 vs I = .108 at 6 months), peak number of drinks per sitting (C = 8.03 vs I = 6.87 at 3 months; C = 7.98 vs I = 6.52 at 6 months), average number of drinks per week (C = 9.47 vs I = 7.33 at 3 months; C = 8.90 vs I = 6.16 at 6 months), number of drunk episodes in a typical week (C = 1.24 vs I = 0.85 at 3 months; C = 1.10 vs I = 0.71 at 6 months), number of times taken foolish risks (C = 2.24 vs I = 1.12 at 3 months), and RAPI sum scores (C = 6.55 vs I = 4.96 at 6 months; C = 6.17 vs I = 4.58 at 9 months).Brief interventions delivered by primary care providers in a student health center to high-risk-drinking students may result in significantly decreased alcohol consumption, high-risk drinking, and alcohol-related harms.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol & Drugs, (16) : 131-141
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Motivational interviewing, includes Motivational Enhancing Therapy, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Riper, Heleen, van Straten, Annemieke, Keuken, Max, Smit, Filip, Schippers, Gerard, Cuijpers, Pim
Context: Evidence Acquisition: Evidence Synthesis: Conclusions: The effectiveness of personalized-feedback interventions to reduce problem drinking has been evaluated in several RCTs and systematic reviews. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the overall effectiveness of brief, single-session personalized-feedback interventions without therapeutic guidance.The selection and analyses of studies were conducted in 2008. Fourteen RCTs of single-session personalized-feedback interventions without therapeutic guidance were identified, and their combined effectiveness on the reduction of problematic alcohol consumption was evaluated in a meta-analysis. Alcohol consumption was the primary outcome measure.The pooled standardized-effect size (14 studies, 15 comparisons) for reduced alcohol consumption at post-intervention was d=0.22 (95% CI=0.16, 0.29; the number needed to treat=8.06; areas under the curve=0.562). No heterogeneity existed among the studies (Q=10.962; p=0.69; I(2)=0).The use of single-session personalized-feedback interventions without therapeutic guidance appears to be a viable and probably cost-effective option for reducing problem drinking in student and general populations. The Internet offers ample opportunities to deliver personalized-feedback interventions on a broad scale, and problem drinkers are known to be amenable to Internet-based interventions. More research is needed on the long-term effectiveness of personalized-feedback interventions for problem drinking, on its potential as a first step in a stepped-care approach, and on its effectiveness with other groups (such as youth obliged to use judicial service programs because of violations of minimum-age drinking laws) and in other settings (such as primary care).
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(3) : 247-255
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Systematic reviews
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Walters, S. T., Vader, A. M., Harris, T. R., Jouriles, E. N.
Aims Previous research has suggested that alcohol screening and assessment may affect drinking. Design This study was a randomized test of reactivity to alcohol assessment questionnaires among a group of heavy drinking college students. Setting and participants A total of 147 university students completed a screening questionnaire and were randomized to either immediate assessment or delayed assessment. The immediate assessment group completed a set of drinking questionnaires at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months, while the delayed assessment group completed questionnaires only at 12 months. Measurements Primary outcomes included overall volume of drinking, risky drinking and use of risk reduction behaviors. Findings We found a significant effect of assessment on measures of risky drinking and risk reduction behaviors, but not on overall volume of drinking. Specifically, at 12 months, participants who had previously completed drinking assessments had a lower peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) (d = -0.373), were more likely to report a low score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT; odds ratio = 2.55) and tended to use more strategies to moderate their alcohol consumption (d = 0.352). Risk reduction behaviors that were affected tended to be those that limited alcohol consumption, rather than those that minimized consequences. Conclusions These results may have implications for the development of brief interventions. (copyright) 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction.
Addiction, 104(8) : 1305-1310
- Year: 2009
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions