A self-help approach for high-risk drinking: effect of an initial assessment

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Background:

• Alcohol use disorder is a significant public health concern.
• Self-help interventions are a common approach for individuals seeking to reduce alcohol consumption.
• Assessing the efficacy of different delivery methods for self-help resources is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a self-help book intervention for individuals aiming to reduce alcohol intake.
• To compare a "book by mail" condition with an "assessment plus book" condition involving a motivational interview.

Main Methods:

• Participants (N=155) seeking to reduce alcohol use were recruited and randomly assigned to receive a self-help book via mail or a motivational interview followed by the book.
• Drinking behavior was assessed at 3-month and 12-month follow-ups.
• Moderate drinking was defined as <= 12 drinks/week and <= 10% heavy drinking days.

Main Results:

• At 3 months, the "assessment plus book" group had significantly higher rates of moderate drinking (65%) compared to the "book by mail" group (43%).
• At 12 months, no significant difference in drinking outcomes was found between the conditions.
• However, at 12 months, women (71%) were significantly more likely to be moderate drinkers than men (52%).
• Participant self-reports were corroborated by collateral informants.

Conclusions:

• A brief motivational interview combined with a self-help book may enhance initial success in reducing alcohol consumption.
• The long-term impact of this combined intervention may not be sustained at 12 months.
• Gender differences in achieving moderate drinking status warrant further investigation in alcohol reduction interventions.