Methods of Intervention to Modify Drinking Patterns in Heavy Drinkers

Health problems of substance-dependent veterans with and those without trauma history

“…Whereas some research studies have documented worse substance use outcomes for substance-dependent adults with comorbid PTSD (e.g., Brown, Stout, & Mueller, 1996), other studies have not replicated these findings (e.g., Ouimette, Brown, & Najavits, 1998). A separate area of research has suggested that health problems may enhance motivation for changing addictive behaviors (e.g., Kristenson, 1987;Monti et al, 1999;O'Toole, Pollini, Ford, & Bigelow, 2006;Smith, Hodgson, Bridgeman, & Shepherd, 2003;Tate et al, 2005). Possibly, the increased health problems experienced by those with trauma exposure and PTSD enhanced their motivation for maintaining abstinence from alcohol and drug use after treatment.…”

Smoking Cessation Is Followed by Increases in Serum Bilirubin, an Endogenous Antioxidant Associated With Lower Risk of Lung Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

“…Having a biomarker that correlates with future consequences could help increase motivation to change by making the potential health benefits of quitting more immediately apparent. Studies in alcoholdependent patients have documented that feedback about gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as a marker of alcohol-related liver damage can lead to reductions in drinking (Kristenson, 1987;Nilssen, 1991). In smokers, studies have shown that reviewing arterial scanning images with patients to discuss smoking-related cardiovascular disease risk improved cessation (Hollands, Hankins, & Marteau, 2010) while another showed benefits on cessation from providing feedback about "lung age" based on spirometry results (Parkes, 2008).…”

Characteristics of life stressors predictive of substance treatment outcomes

“…In particular, marital stress has been more strongly linked to depressive disorders than other types of stressors (Whisman, 1999) and stressful family environments predict relapse among patients with schizophrenia (Schnur, Friedman, Dorman, Redford, & Kesselman, 1986). Although stressors in general have been associated with poorer treatment outcomes for adults with substance use disorders, a growing number of clinical intervention studies suggest that health problems may instead be associated with better addiction treatment outcomes (e.g., Kristenson, 1987;Monti et al, 1999;Smith, Hodgson, Bridgeman, & Shepherd, 2003).…”