Does matching patient attributes to treatment matter?
- This study assessed the predictive validity of the level of matching and mismatching between patients' personal attributes and aspects of outpatient psychotherapy they received.
- The researchers concluded that mismatches between patient attributes and treatment appear to have serious consequences, and this effect is magnified with multiple mismatches. Matches, on the other hand, while beneficial, may not be necessary to achieve good outcomes.
Mitchell P. Karno, Richard Longabaugh (2007) Does matching matter? Examining matches and mismatches between patient attributes and therapy techniques in alcoholism treatment Addiction 102 (4), 587–596
Alcohol ignition interlock programme for drink-drivers: effects on hospital care utilization and sick leave
- This project evaluates health outcomes following an alcohol ignition interlock programme (AIIP) by assessing hospital care utilization and sick-leave register data relative to controls with revoked licences, but with no comparable opportunity to participate in an AIIP.
- Conclusions: Voluntary participation in an AIIP has favourable effects with less need for hospital care or sick leave. This is probably linked to reduced alcohol consumption during the programme and to the ability to continue driving.
Bo Bjerre, Paul Marques, Jan Selén, Ulf Thorsson (2007) A Swedish alcohol ignition interlock programme for drink-drivers: effects on hospital care utilization and sick leave Addiction 102 (4), 560–570
Strategies teenagers use to minimise alcohol-related harm
- Aims: To examine strategies of harm minimization employed by teenage drinkers.
- Findings: The teenagers participating in the present study were more concerned about social than health risks. The informants monitored their own level of intoxication, but in order to reduce alcohol consumption they depended upon support from their peers. The informants preferred drinking in the company of well-known and trusted peers, and during drinking episodes they supervised and intervened in each others' drinking to the extent that they deemed it necessary and possible. In regulating the social context of drinking they relied on their personal experiences more than on formalized knowledge about alcohol and harm, which they had learned from prevention campaigns and educational programmes.
- Conclusions: The study found that teenagers may help each other to minimize alcohol-related harm, and teenage peer groups should thus be considered a resource for health promotion.
Morten Hulvej Jørgensen, Tine Curtis, Pia Haudrup Christensen, Morten Grønbæk (2007) Harm minimization among teenage drinkers: findings from an ethnographic study on teenage alcohol use in a rural Danish community Addiction 102 (4), 554–559
Viewing videotape of themselves while experiencing delirium tremens could reduce the relapse rate in alcohol-dependent patients
- The aim of this prospective randomized controlled study was to determine whether viewing videotape of themselves while experiencing delirium tremens (DT) reduces the relapse rate in alcohol-dependent patients.
- Findings: The patients with videotape experience had a significantly lower relapse rate after the first month (0% versus 20%), 2 months (13.33% versus 46.67%) and 3 months (26.67% versus 53.33%). Patients with videotape experience had less severe relapses and consumed fewer units of alcohol than controls.
- Conclusions: Videotape exposure in delirium tremens is an original therapeutic method which seems to be effective in reducing relapse risk in patients with alcohol dependence.
Adriana Mihai, Cristian Damsa, Michael Allen, Bertrand Baleydier, Coralie Lazignac, Andreas Heinz (2007) Viewing videotape of themselves while experiencing delirium tremens could reduce the relapse rate in alcohol-dependent patients Addiction 102 (2), 226–231.
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