A Randomized Behavioral Intervention to Improve Outcomes Following Detoxification for Alcohol Dependence among...

Alcohol dependence is a chronic and relapsing disorder that affects millions worldwide, leading to severe physical, psychological, and social consequences. Detoxification is often the initial step in treating alcohol dependence, providing medical stabilization and withdrawal management. However, detoxification alone is insufficient for long-term recovery, as individuals frequently relapse shortly after completing the process.

To compare the rate of initiation of rehabilitation services within 30, 60, and 90 days postdischarge between motivational enhancement therapy (MET) and treatment as usual (TAU) groups.

A parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted from October 2022 to March 2024. The primary outcome was initiation of rehabilitation services; secondary outcomes included abstinence rates and alcoholics anonymous meeting attendance. A total of 110 patients who satisfied criteria for alcohol dependence according to ICD-11 were selected from Vinayaka Mission Kirupananda Variyar Medical College and Hospital, Salem, for the study. A simple randomized sampling method was used for selecting the study participants.

Of 110 randomized, 100 completed the follow-up. The average age of the participants using alcohol in the TAU and MET groups was 17.66 and 18.5 years, respectively. The majority of the study participants were severely dependent (50.0%), according to severity of alcohol dependence questionnaire score. The MET group showed significantly higher initiation of rehabilitation services at 30 (78.8% vs. 45.8%, P < 0.001), 60 (73.1% vs. 35.4%, P < 0.001), and 90 days (69.2% vs. 29.2%, P < 0.001). Abstinence rates were also higher in MET at all follow-ups (P < 0.01).

MET significantly improves postdetoxification engagement with rehabilitation services and abstinence rates. Structured behavioral interventions should be integrated into standard care.