Frequent Follow-up as Data Gathering and Continued Care with Alcoholics

Abstract

THe clinical value of frequent follow-up interviews as a form of continuing care for alcoholics was investigated. Sixty-seven male subjects who had participated in an inpatient alcohol research treatment study were followed up monthly for 2 years and interviewed in depth at the end of 2 years. Almost all subjects felt that the frequent follow-up contacts had functioned for them as continued supportive care. The possibility that frequent follow-up interviews may serve to consolidate and increase gains made in treatment is discussed.

Are alcoholism treatments effective? The Project MATCH data

“…Additionally, there are a number of non-treatment effects likely to result in reduced drinking [19,21-23]. In order to enter the trial participants had to first achieve a level of abstinence or reduced intake.…”

“…Once in the trial, the continued monitoring of drinking behavior by staff personnel may have both motivational and therapeutic benefits. For example, in one study with a 2 year follow-up [21], over half the participants indicated they liked the "caring, concern and help" follow-up telephone contact, and in another [24], the telephone interviewers reported that they usually entered in a sympathetic interaction with the study participants. Such positive empathetic contact could be of therapeutic benefit.…”

Assessment Reactivity: Can Assessment of Alcohol Use During Research be an Active Treatment?

“…The potential of frequent follow-up assessment possibly to function as an active treatment has been postulated for many years (Sobell & Sobell, 1981). Assessment reactivity has become an important concern in alcohol treatment research as best illustrated by two large, comprehensively designed multiple center treatment studies: Project Matching Alcoholism Treatments to Client Heterogeneity (MATCH; Project MATCH Research Group, 1993) and Project Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE;COMBINE Research Group, 2003).…”

Have we evaluated addiction treatment correctly? Implications from a chronic care perspective

“…In this regard, one of the most interesting findings from Project MATCH was that even brief research contacts over the telephone appear to have the ability to support abstinence and avert relapse (see Stout et al 1999). There are some innovative and potentially effective monitoring efforts within the addiction treatment field, but these were typically developed as adjuncts to the research efforts with those patients, not as clinical interventions (Sobell & Sobell 1980;McKay et al 1998;Stout et al 1999). …”