Predicting post-treatment-initiation alcohol use among patients with severe mental illness and alcohol use disorders.

Few investigators studying alcohol abuse among individuals with a severe mental illness (SMI) have examined predictors of posttreatment alcohol outcomes. In the present study, a multivariate approach based on a theoretical model was used to study the relationship between psychosocial factors and post-treatment-initiation alcohol use. Predictors of alcohol use outcomes were examined in 278 individuals diagnosed with a current schizophrenia-spectrum or bipolar disorder and an alcohol use disorder (AUD). At 6-months follow-up, 144 of 228 available participants (63%) had good clinical outcomes. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that type of pretreatment residential setting was directly related to treatment, with participants who lived in supervised settings (41%) reporting significantly more days of treatment (β = .34, p     

Course of functioning in adolescents 1 year after alcohol and other drug treatment.

Clinical course was studied in 131 male and female adolescents with current alcohol use disorder (AUD) at baseline (BL). Participants were classified into 4 groups according to their diagnosis and drinking pattern 1 year later. The 4 groups were compared with each other and with 37 community control participants. Results showed that over half of the clinical sample no longer had a current AUD at 1 year; about 64% were and 36% were not still drinking. BL discriminators of 1-year status were alcohol dependence, other drug use, and coping. All of the clinical groups tended to show improvement at 1 year in the main dependent variables, and the abstainers' level of drug use and coping were comparable with that of the community participants. These findings suggest that many adolescents improve in functioning during the 1 year after alcohol and drug treatment and that a stress and coping model is useful for studying clinical course of AUDs in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Drug use and abuse (2nd ed.).

Review of book, Stephen A. Maisto, Mark Galizio, and Gerard J. Connors. Drug Use and Abuse (2nd ed.) Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Press, 1995, 500 pp. Reviewed by Mitch Earleywine. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Factor structure of the SOCRATES in a clinical sample of adolescents.

This study investigated the Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES: W. R. Miller & J. S. Tonigan, 1996) in adolescents presenting for treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The participants were 80 males and 43 females (mean age=16.8 years) who presented for AUD treatment (95.1% outpatient, 4.9% inpatient). Participants completed assessments at baseline and 1 year and provided information on alcohol use and related variables monthly between these 2 assessments. Principal-components and confirmatory factor analyses of the baseline SOCRATES identified 2 factors, Taking Steps and Recognition, which showed good internal consistency and concurrent and predictive evidence of validity. The results were interpreted as supporting the use of the SOCRATES with clinical samples of adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of alcoholics' self-reports of drinking behavior with reports of collateral informants.

Collected 6-mo posthospitalization follow-up data from 52 alcoholics and their collateral informants. Ss' self-reports and collateral reports of Ss' drinking were highly correlated when Ss had been either mostly abstinent or mostly drunk throughout the follow-up period. Findings suggest that (a) alcoholics who have been hospitalized for detoxification generally provide reliable self-reports of their posttreatment drinking behavior, and (b) gathering data from collateral informants is an effective method for corroborating alcoholics' self-reports of drinking behavior. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of change in adolescents involved in alcohol and drug treatment.

This study examined differences between statistical and clinically significant change. All participants were adolescent "drinkers" who were classified into 2 groups: those recruited from alcohol or drug treatment programs and with a diagnosis of current alcohol abuse or dependence, or those with no such diagnostic history, and no history of substance abuse treatment. The results showed statistically significant change in clinical participants from baseline to 1 yr on the 1 psychosocial adjustment and 3 drinking pattern measures. Additional analyses of clinically significant change greatly enhanced understanding of the level of functioning and degree of change in the clinical participants. The findings illustrate that use of such an approach increases the value of analyses of outcome data to the consumer. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using information, motivational enhancement, and skills training to reduce the risk of HIV infection for low-income urban women: A second randomized clinical trial.

This randomized clinical trial evaluated an HIV-risk reduction (HIV-RR) intervention based on the information–motivation–behavioral skills model. At baseline, 102 women (M age?=?29 years; 88% African American) completed a survey regarding HIV-related knowledge, risk perceptions, behavioral intentions, and risk behavior. Participants were then assigned to either the HIV-RR intervention or a health-promotion control group. Postintervention and follow-up data indicated that women in the HIV-RR program enhanced their knowledge and strengthened their risk reduction intentions relative to controls. Moreover, HIV-RR women who expressed "imperfect" intentions also increased their condom use, talked more with partners about condom use and HIV testing, and were more likely to have refused unprotected sex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)