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To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Randomized-Controlled Trial of a Telephone and Mail Intervention for Alcohol Use Disorders: Three-Month Drinking Outcomes
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research (OnlineEarly Articles). 5 June 2007

Alcohol screening, brief intervention, and referral to specialized treatment (ASBIR) reduce drinking and related harms. Unanswered questions are how to manage nondependent patients with poor response to brief interventions, how to manage dependent patients who do not obtain treatment, and how to ensure population-wide delivery of ASBIR. Telephone-administered counseling may provide answers.

We conducted a 12-month randomized controlled trial of a telephone and mail intervention for non-treatment–seeking primary care patients with alcohol use disorders.

Following systematic screening, a six-session telephone and mail intervention is more effective than a pamphlet in reducing drinking at 3 months for non-treatment–seeking men with alcohol abuse and dependence.

An intervention effect of the enrollment procedures may have obscured further intervention effectiveness.

Telephone counseling shows promise for non-treatment–seeking primary care patients with alcohol use disorders.

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Reprint Request E-mail: rlbrown@wisc.edu

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