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Addiction Science & Clinical Practice
Published in: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research

Preliminary study of alcohol problem severity and response to brief intervention

Authors: Lindsay R. Meredith, Erica N. Grodin, Mitchell P. Karno, Amanda K. Montoya, James MacKillop, Aaron C. Lim, Lara A. Ray

Published in: Addiction Science & Clinical Practice | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Findings have been mixed as to whether brief intervention (BI) is appropriate and effective for individuals with more severe alcohol use problems. Motivation to change drinking has been supported as a mechanism of behavior change for BI. This exploratory study examined aspects of motivation as mechanisms of clinical response to BI and alcohol problem severity as a moderator of treatment effects.

Methods

Non-treatment-seeking heavy drinkers (average age = 35 years; 57% male) were randomized to receive BI (n = 27) or attention-matched control (n = 24). Three indices of motivation to change were assessed at baseline and post-intervention: importance, confidence, and readiness. Moderated mediation analyses were implemented with treatment condition as the focal predictor, changes in motivation as mediator, 1-month follow-up drinks per day as the outcome, and an alcohol severity factor as second-stage moderator.

Results

Analysis of importance displayed a significant effect of intervention condition on importance (p < 0.003) and yielded a significant index of moderated mediation (CI − 0.79, − 0.02), indicating that the conditional indirect effect of treatment condition on drinking through importance was stronger for those with higher alcohol severity. For all motivation indices, alcohol severity moderated the effect of post-intervention motivation levels on drinking (p’s < 0.05). The direct effect of treatment condition on drinking was not significant in any model.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the relevance of considering one’s degree of alcohol problem severity in BI and alcohol screening efforts among non-treatment seeking heavy drinkers. These nuanced effects elucidate both potential mechanisms and moderators of BI response.
Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04710095. Registered January 14, 2021—retrospectively registered, https://​clinicaltrials.​gov/​ct2/​show/​study/​NCT04710095.
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Metadata
Title
Preliminary study of alcohol problem severity and response to brief intervention
Authors
Lindsay R. Meredith
Erica N. Grodin
Mitchell P. Karno
Amanda K. Montoya
James MacKillop
Aaron C. Lim
Lara A. Ray
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Addiction Science & Clinical Practice / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1940-0640
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-021-00262-6

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