Screening and brief interventions for alcohol use disorders in managed care settings

This chapter will focus on the identification and treatment of alcohol use disorders in general medical care settings in the context of managed care systems. The chapter will include the best data available on the prevalence of problem drinking, screening procedures, brief intervention ("talk therapy"), and implementation in managed care environments. The clinical protocols presented were designed for primary care clinicians working with patients seeking routine medical care. The protocol was developed for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Physicians' Guide. The four steps were designed to help clinicians to screen, to conduct a brief assessment, to provide advice and or referral and to establish follow-up procedures.