Randomized controlled trial of two brief alcohol interventions for OEF/OIF veterans.

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of two brief interventions for alcohol misuse in a sample of combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Method Participants were 68 combat veterans (91.2% male; 64.7% White, 27.9% Black) with a mean age of 32.31 years (SD = 8.84) who screened positive for hazardous drinking in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center primary care clinic using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. More than half of the sample (57.4%) met criteria for PTSD (based on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale). Eligible veterans who elected to participate completed a baseline assessment and were randomized to receive one of two interventions (personalized feedback delivered with or without a motivational interviewing counseling session). Both interventions included information on hazardous drinking, PTSD symptoms, depression, and coping. Follow up assessments were conducted at 6 weeks and 6 months post-intervention. Results Both conditions resulted in statistically significant reductions in quantity and frequency of alcohol use, as well as frequency of binge drinking. Within group effect sizes (d) were in the small to medium range (.34 to .55) for quantity and frequency of alcohol use. There were no condition by time interactions, suggesting that both interventions were similarly effective. PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans responded equally well to both interventions, but veterans with PTSD assigned to Feedback+MI reported greater reductions in weekly drinking at the 6-week follow up. Conclusions These findings suggest that brief interventions for alcohol misuse may be effective for reducing drinking, even in an OEF/OIF Veteran population with a high degree of PTSD.

Single-Session Alcohol Interventions for Heavy Drinking College Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Brief interventions may vary in effectiveness across demographics, such as gender (Fleming et al, 2002), ethnicity, or between volunteer versus mandated participants (e.g., Kazemi et al, 2013, but see also Terlecki et al, 2010). Effects may also vary by characteristics of the interventions themselves, including duration and theoretical approach (e.g., Barnett et al, 2010;Black et al, 2012, but see also McDevitt-Murphy et al, 2014). Last, intervention effects may vary depending on how primary study authors operationalize alcohol use outcomes (e.g., frequency vs. quantity of drinking) or the delay between intervention and outcome assessment (e.g., see Carey et al, 2007;Moreira et al, 2009, but see also Burke et al, 2004).…”

A systematic review of the effectiveness of alcohol brief interventions for the UK military personnel moving back to civilian life

“…In two papers using the same data set participants were recruited via Facebook 26 33. Participants were also recruited from across eight military installations31 or were attending transition clinics for veterans of operations in Afghanistan and Iraq 29 30. In five studies, mean age of participants was over 50 years 24 25 27 28 32.…”

“…In five studies, mean age of participants was over 50 years 24 25 27 28 32. The other five studies recruited a younger demographic with a mean age of 32 years26 29 30 33 and 69% being between 21 and 34 years 31. Study characteristics are shown in Table 1.…”

“…The characteristics of studies that may have caused an increase or decrease in reported effectiveness of interventions are discussed in this review and are shown in Table 2. Five studies had a high risk of selection bias because <60% of invited individuals agreed to participate, participants were self-selecting or were recruited from a clinic 26 27 30 31 33. Study designs were moderate to good with four being retrospective cohort or secondary analysis of an RCT24 25 32 33 and the rest being RCTs26 27 and CCTs 28–31.…”

Sleep Disturbances in Alcoholic Disease. Diagnpstics and Therapy

“…При пагубном потреблении алкоголя (суммарный балл по шкале АУДИТ меньше 8) пациенту проводится кратко-срочное вмешательство (brief intervention) [20]. Метод занимает не более 10 мин, но позволяет значимо сокра-тить опасный уровень приема алкоголя.…”