Friday, July 4, 2008

Brief Motivational Interventions for Heavy College Drinkers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2006 October; 74(5): 943–954.


In this randomized controlled trial, the authors evaluated brief motivational interventions (BMIs) for at-risk college drinkers.

Heavy drinking students (N = 509; 65% women, 35% men) were randomized into 1 of 6 intervention conditions formed by crossing baseline timeline followback (TLFB) interview (present versus absent) and intervention type (basic BMI, BMI enhanced with a decisional balance module, or none). Assessments completed at baseline, 1, 6, and 12 months measured typical and risky drinking as well as drinking-related problems.

Relative to controls, the TLFB interview reduced consumption but not problems at 1 month. The basic BMI improved all drinking outcomes beyond the effects of the TLFB at 1 month, whereas the enhanced BMI did not.

Risk reduction achieved by brief interventions maintained throughout the follow-up year.

Read Full Text (PDF)
_______________________________________________________________