Disorders - Alcohol Use
Lewis, Melissa A., Neighbors, Clayton, Oster-Aaland, Laura, Kirkeby, Benjamin S., Larimer, Mary E.
This research evaluated the efficacy of a computerized, freshmen-specific personalized normative feedback (PNF) intervention on reducing alcohol consumption among high-risk drinking freshmen. Students (N = 316; 53.8% female) completed measures of perceived drinking norms and drinking behavior. After completing the baseline assessment, students were randomly assigned to receive either freshmen-specific PNF that was gender-specific or gender-neutral, or to assessment only control. Findings demonstrated that students exhibited normative misperceptions for typical freshmen drinking behavior and that perceptions of typical same-sex freshmen drinking were positively associated with riskier drinking behavior. At follow-up, students randomly assigned to receive PNF reduced perceptions of typical freshmen drinking behavior and personal drinking behavior relative to those who did not receive PNF. Findings extend previous evaluations of computer-based PNF and suggest that computer-based PNF for incoming freshmen utilizing freshmen-specific norms that are gender-specific may constitute a promising prevention strategy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).
Addictive Behaviors, 32(11) : 2495-2508
- Year: 2007
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Tevyaw-O'Leary, Tracy, Borsari, Brian, Colby, Suzanne M., Monti, Peter M.
In this pilot study, the authors evaluated whether incorporating a peer in a brief motivational intervention would lead to significant reductions in alcohol use and problems in students mandated to receive treatment after violating campus alcohol policy. Thirty-six participant-peer dyads (66% male) were randomly assigned to receive either two 45-min sessions of an individual motivational intervention (IMI, n = 18) or a peer-enhanced motivational intervention (PMI, n = 18). The IMI included exploration of motivation to change alcohol use, perceived positive and negative effects of drinking, personalized feedback, and goals for changing alcohol consumption and related behaviors. The PMI included all elements of the IMI plus the presence of a supportive peer of the participant during both sessions. Although both groups significantly reduced number of drinking days and heavy drinking days at 1-month follow-up, the magnitude of within-group reductions in alcohol use and problems was 3 times larger on average for the PMI group than for the IMI group, based on effect-size calculations. Peers and participants endorsed high satisfaction ratings on the PMI. Findings indicate the promise of including peers in brief motivational interventions for mandated students. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).
Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 21(1) : 114-119
- Year: 2007
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Motivational interviewing, includes Motivational Enhancing Therapy, Other Psychological Interventions
Stahlbrandt, H., Johnsson, K. O., Berglund, M.
Background: High-risk alcohol consumption among university students is well documented. Several types of intervention have proved to be effective in reducing alcohol consumption. This study examines the 2-year outcome of 2 different alcohol intervention programs at university halls of residence. Methods: Ninety-eight university halls of residence (with 556 students) were cluster randomized to 2 different intervention groups: a brief skills training program (BSTP) with interactive lectures and discussions, a twelve-step- influenced (TSI) program with didactic lectures by therapists trained in the 12-step approach, and a control group. All students completing the baseline assessment received personalized feedback by mail. Students responded to mailed follow-up questionnaires after 1, 2, and 3 years, including alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT; years 2 and 3), short index of problems (SIP), and estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC). Results: All groups significantly reduced their AUDIT scores from baseline to the second year follow-up, with no significant differences between the groups. Seventy-seven percent of the students belonged to a population with high-risk consumption, using the AUDIT cut-off scores of 8 and 4 for men and women, respectively. Students with high-risk alcohol consumption showed significant differences in AUDIT score reduction in favor of the BSTP compared with controls, and had a tendency to show better results than the TSI intervention (p=0.06). Similar trends could be seen using SIP and eBAC. The TSI did not differ significantly from the control group within the group of students with high-risk alcohol consumption. Conclusions: This study suggests that a BSTP is effective as an intervention in students with high-risk alcohol consumption. Copyright copyright 2007 by the Research Society on Alcoholism.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research., 31(3) : 458-466
- Year: 2007
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Psychoeducation, Skills training
Thush, C., Wiers, R., Theunissen, N., Van den Bosch, J., Opdenacker, J., van Empelen, P., Moerbeek, M., et-al
This study investigated the effectiveness of a targeted intervention program aimed at at-risk adolescents in a randomized clinical trial design (N = 107). This program combined intervention methods which have been proven effective in reducing drinking in young adults, such as an expectancy challenge, cognitive behavioral skill training and brief motivational feedback. Additionally, this intervention contained the new element of discussing biological, cognitive and social risk factors for developing alcohol problems. We investigated whether this seven session program was successful in changing cognitive determinants of drinking behavior and consequently in moderating alcohol use and the development of alcohol-related problems in at-risk adolescents. The intervention was effective in changing several of the targeted cognitive determinants. However, despite the changes in these cognitive determinants of drinking, the experimental group did not show a significant difference in decrease of drinking at posttest compared with the control group. The results did not yield support for any differential long term effects of the intervention. We concluded that although the present intervention successfully changed important cognitive determinants of drinking more is needed to change subsequent drinking behavior in at-risk adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract).
Pharmacology, Biochemistry & Behavior, 86(2) : 368-376
- Year: 2007
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: At risk (indicated or selected prevention)
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions, Personalised feedback, normative feedback
Monti, Peter M., Barnett, Nancy P., Colby, Suzanne M., Gwaltney, Chad J., Spirito, Anthony, Rohsenow, Damaris J., Woolard, Robert
AIM: To establish the efficacy of a brief motivational intervention compared to feedback only when delivered in an emergency department for reducing alcohol use and problems among young adults. DESIGN: Two-group randomized controlled trial with follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months. SETTING: Level I Trauma Center. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 198 18-24-year-old patients who were either alcohol positive upon hospital admission or met screening criteria for alcohol problems. INTERVENTION: Participants were assigned randomly to receive a one-session motivational intervention (MI) that included personalized feedback, or the personalized feedback report only (FO). All participants received additional telephone contact 1 month and 3 months after baseline. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic information, alcohol use, alcohol problems and treatment seeking. FINDINGS: Six months after the intervention MI participants drank on fewer days, had fewer heavy drinking days and drank fewer drinks per week in the past month than did FO patients. These effects were maintained at 12 months. Clinical significance evaluation indicated that twice as many MI participants as FO participants reliably reduced their volume of alcohol consumption from baseline to 12 months. Reductions in alcohol-related injuries and moving violations, and increases in alcohol treatment-seeking were observed across both conditions at both follow-ups with no differences between conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new data supporting the potential of the motivational intervention tested to reduce alcohol consumption among high-risk youth.
Addiction, 102(8) : 1234-43
- Year: 2007
- 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
White, Helene R., Mun, Eun Young, Pugh, Lisa, Morgan, Thomas J.
BACKGROUND: It is known that brief interventions for mandated college students decrease alcohol use and/or related problems in the short term. However, none of the existing studies has followed students' past 6 months. Therefore, we compared the long-term efficacy of 2 brief substance use feedback interventions for mandated college students. METHODS: We followed up mandated students (N=348) who were randomly assigned to either a brief motivational interview (BMI; n=180) or a written feedback-only (WF; n=168) intervention at 4 months and 15 months postintervention. RESULTS: Long-term follow-up data revealed that students, at the aggregate level, decreased their peak blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels, number of drinks per week, and number of alcohol-related problems at 15 months postintervention compared with their baseline levels. With the exception of peak BAC, the observed long-term reduction was mainly due to the positive change among students who received the BMI intervention. Students in the BMI intervention showed significantly lower levels of alcohol-related problems at 15 months than those in the WF intervention. The BMI intervention more effectively reduced within-individual alcohol-related problems during the initial 4 months, and more successfully curbed the subsequent increase in alcohol use frequency and number of drinks per week during the 11 months between the 2 follow-up assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that brief substance use interventions reduce the riskiest type of alcohol use (e.g., peak BAC) among mandated college students over the long term, and that sleeper effects of in-person personal feedback interventions (PFIs) exist. In-person PFIs in the context of a motivational interview may be more efficacious in the long term than written feedback-only interventions for mandated students. Future studies comparing interventions for college students should extend follow-up for longer periods of time.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 31(8) : 1380-91
- Year: 2007
- 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
Wood, Mark D., Capone, Christy, Laforge, Robert, Erickson, Darin J., Brand, Nancy H.
This study is the first reported test of the unique and combined effects of Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) and Alcohol Expectancy Challenge (AEC) with heavy drinking college students. Three hundred and thirty-five participants were randomly assigned in a 2x2 factorial design to either: BMI, AEC, BMI and AEC, and assessment only conditions. Follow-ups occurred at 1, 3, and 6 months. Unconditional latent curve analyses suggested that alcohol use (Q-F), heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol problems were best modeled as quadratic effects. BMI produced significant decreases in Q-F, heavy drinking, and problems, while AEC produced significant decreases in Q-F and heavy drinking. There was no evidence of an additive effect of combining the interventions. Intervention effects decayed somewhat for BMI and completely for AEC over 6 months. Multi-group analyses suggested similar intervention effects for men and women. BMI effects on alcohol problems were mediated by perceived norms. These findings extend previous research with BMI and AEC but do not support their utility as a combined preventive intervention to reduce collegiate alcohol abuse.
Addictive Behaviors, 32(11) : 2509-28
- Year: 2007
- 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
Walters, Scott T., Vader, Amanda M., Harris, T. Robert
OBJECTIVE: Alcohol consumption has been a growing concern at U.S. colleges, particularly among first-year students, who are at increased risk for problems. This study tested the efficacy of the "electronic Check-Up to Go" (e-CHUG), a commercially-available internet program, at reducing drinking among a group of at-risk college freshman. METHOD: The design was a randomized controlled trial: 106 freshmen students who reported heavy episodic drinking were randomly assigned to receive feedback or to assessment only. Assessment measures were completed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks. RESULTS: At 8 weeks, the feedback group showed a significant decrease in drinks per week and peak BAC over control. By 16 weeks, the control group also declined to a point where there were no differences between groups. Changes in normative drinking estimates mediated the effect of the intervention. An additional 245 abstainers and light drinkers who were also randomized to condition did not show any intervention effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary support for the efficacy of this intervention at reducing short-term drinking among at-risk students.
Prevention Science, 8(1) : 83-8
- Year: 2007
- 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)
Saitz, Richard, Palfai, Tibor P., Freedner, Naomi, Winter, Michael R., Macdonald, Alexandra, Lu, John, Ozonoff, Al, et-al
AIMS: To test the feasibility of online alcohol screening and brief intervention (BI) by comparing (i) two approaches to inviting all students to be screened, and (ii) a minimal versus a more extensive BI. METHODS: Freshmen students at one university were randomized to receive one of two types of email invitations to an online anonymous: (i) general health assessment, or (ii) alcohol-specific assessment. All were linked to the same alcohol screening survey. Those with unhealthy alcohol use (AUDIT >or=8) were randomly assigned to minimal or more extensive online alcohol BI. RESULTS: In both invitation groups (4008 students), 55% of students completed the online screening. Overall, 37% of men and 26% of women had unhealthy alcohol use. Compared to minimal BI, more extensive BI was associated with intention to seek help among men and with a greater increase in readiness to change among women. One month after BI, 75% of students completed another assessment, 33% of women and 15% of men with unhealthy alcohol use at baseline no longer had unhealthy alcohol use. There were no significant differences on drinking measures by BI randomization group. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of an entire freshman class of college students were reached by email and completed alcohol screening and brief intervention. Even an alcohol-specific invitation did not deter students. Although brief interventions that differed had some gender specific effects on readiness to change and intention, in general, unhealthy alcohol use decreased after brief intervention. Web screening and brief intervention show promise for addressing unhealthy alcohol use by college students.
Alcohol & Alcoholism, 42(1) : 28-36
- Year: 2007
- 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)
Shortt, Alison L., Hutchinson, Delyse M., Chapman, Rianna, Toumbourou, John W.
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: This study aimed to examine: (a) the influence of family factors relative to school, peer and individual influences on the development of adolescent alcohol use during the first year of secondary school; and (b) the feasibility of preventing adolescent alcohol use by modifying family factors. DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty-four schools in Melbourne, Australia were randomly assigned to either the 'Resilient Families' intervention or a control condition. A baseline cohort of 2315 grade 7 students (mean age 12.3 years) were followed-up one year later (n=2128 for longitudinal analyses). A sub-set of parents (n=1166) also returned baseline surveys. RESULTS: The prevalence of lifetime alcohol use in year 7 was 33% and rose to 47% by year 8. Student-reported predictors of year 8 alcohol use included baseline alcohol [Odds Ratio (OR) 3.64] and tobacco use (2.68), and school friend's alcohol (1.41) and tobacco use (1.64). After adjusting for other influences, student-reported family factors were not maintained as significant predictors of year 8 alcohol use. Parent-report predictors of student-reported alcohol use included allowing alcohol use in the home (2.55), parental alcohol use (1.88) and child hyperactivity (1.85). Protective factors included attendance at brief parent education (0.60) and parent involvement in school education (0.65). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The intervention appeared to benefit education-related outcomes, but no overall effect in reducing student alcohol use was found in year 8. Intervention effects on alcohol misuse may become significant in later secondary school once the entire program has been implemented. Considerable alcohol use was detected in early secondary school, suggesting that interventions to reduce alcohol use may be usefully implemented prior to this period.
Drug & Alcohol Review, 26(6) : 625-34
- Year: 2007
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Controlled clinical trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions
Hansson, Helena, Rundberg, Jenny, Zetterlind, Ulla, Johnsson, Kent Ove, Berglund, Mats
BACKGROUND: Only a few intervention studies aiming to change high-risk drinking behavior have involved university students with heredity for alcohol problems. This study evaluated the effects after 2 years on drinking patterns and coping behavior of intervention programs for students with parents with alcohol problems. METHOD: In total, 82 university students (57 women and 25 men, average age 25 years) with at least 1 parent with alcohol problems were included in the study. The students were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 programs: (i) alcohol intervention program, (ii) coping intervention program, or (iii) combination program. All the 3 intervention programs were manual based and individually implemented during 2 2-hour sessions, 4 weeks apart. Before the participants were randomly assigned, all were subjected to an individual baseline assessment. This assessment contained both a face-to-face interview and 6 self-completion questionnaires: the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration, Short Index of Problems, the Symptom Checklist-90, Coping with Parents' Abuse Questionnaire, and The Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI). Follow-up interviews were conducted after 1 and 2 years, respectively. The results after 1 year have previously been reported. RESULTS: All participants finished the baseline assessment, accepted and completed the intervention. Ninety-five percent of the students completed the 24-month follow-up assessment. Only the group receiving the combination program continued to improve their drinking pattern significantly (p < 0.05) from the 12-month follow-up to the 24-month follow-up. The improvements in this group were significantly better than in the other 2 groups. The group receiving only alcohol intervention remained at the level of improvement achieved at the 12-month follow-up. The improvements in coping behavior achieved at the 12-month follow-up remained at the 24-month follow-up for all the 3 groups, i.e., regardless of intervention program. CONCLUSION: Positive effects of alcohol intervention between 1 and 2 years were found only in the combined intervention group, contrary to the 1-year results with effects of alcohol intervention with or without a combination with coping intervention.
Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, 31(11) : 1927-33
- Year: 2007
- 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
Glindemann, Kent E., Ehrhart, Ian J., Drake, Elise A., Geller, E. Scott
The impact of an incentive/reward intervention on college students' intoxication from alcohol consumption at fraternity parties was explored using a group-randomized trial. Participants included 702 college students (447 men, 225 women) attending fraternity parties in Blacksburg, VA. Six fraternities were randomly assigned to a control or experimental group, and each of these fraternities hosted two parties. The three fraternities in the experimental group hosted a baseline party first and then hosted an intervention party at which those having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level below 0.05 were entered in a $100 cash lottery. The three fraternities in the control group hosted two control (non-intervention) parties. For the experimental fraternities, mean BAC levels were significantly lower at the intervention parties (M=0.079) than the baseline parties (M=0.098) and the percentage of party-goers with a BAC below 0.08 was significantly higher at intervention parties (40.1%) than at baseline parties (30.6%). This field study supports the efficacy of differential reinforcement in controlling student intoxication at party settings.
Addictive Behaviors, 32(1) : 39-48
- Year: 2007
- Problem: Alcohol Use
- Type: Randomised controlled trials
-
Stage: Universal prevention
-
Treatment and intervention: Psychological Interventions (any)
, Other Psychological Interventions