Computerized Brief Intervention Decreases Drinking and Consequences

Time
and labor constraints on clinicians have spurred the search
for innovative methods to deliver personalized feedback
on unhealthy drinking behavior. One such innovation is
computer-based brief intervention (BI). To assess the
efficacy of computer-based BI to reduce unhealthy alcohol
use, researchers conducted a randomized trial of 61 problem
drinkers (AUDIT* >=8) who were not in alcohol treatment
and were recruited through newspaper advertising. Subjects
were assigned to receive a computer-based BI** either
shortly after study entry (i.e., intervention group) or
at least 4 weeks after entry (i.e., control group).

• At baseline, both groups
  averaged about 5.6 drinks per day.
• At 4 weeks, the intervention
  group had significantly greater reductions in their
  average drinks per day than did the control group (changes
  from baseline of -3 drinks and -1.5 drinks, respectively).
• This reduction persisted
  for the intervention group at 12 months.
• The intervention group
  also significantly improved from baseline on a number
  of other drinking measures (e.g., alcohol consequences,
  readiness to change).

Comments:

It
seems inevitable that computers will play an ever-larger
role in clinical assessment, intervention, and monitoring
for a whole host of disorders. This study adds to a growing
body of research that supports the effectiveness of individualized,
nonthreatening feedback—whether by a human or machine—about
drinking.

Peter D. Friedmann, MD, MPH

Reference:

Hester
RK, Squires DD, Delaney HD. The Drinker’s Check-up: 12-month
outcomes of a controlled clinical trial of a stand-alone
software program for problem drinkers. J Subst Abuse
Treat. 2005;28:159-169.