Self-help manuals for problem drinking: the relative effects of their educational and therapeutic components

This study was concerned with the effects of a self-help manual, administered under conditions of minimal therapist contact, on the alcohol consumption of 26 media-recruited volunteers. It was found that the self-help programme was effective in bringing about a reduction in self-reported alcohol consumption. In addition, the order of presentation of the health education and self-management components of the self-help manual was important with respect to outcome. The group receiving the components in the order self-management followed by education showed a better outcome, in terms of lowered alcohol consumption, than a group receiving the same material in the reverse order. An explanation for this is advanced in terms of the model for process of change put forward by Prochaska & DiClemente (1983). Noting that the use of self-help is best documented for those with less severe alcohol dependency, a number of points for both practice and future research are made.