Common strategies in empirically supported psychological interventions for alcohol use disorders: A meta‐review

Abstract

Issues: Despite the large number of effective psychological interventions for alcohol use disorders (AUD), there is still a lack of clarity concerning the strategies that make these interventions effective. Approach:The overall goal of this review was to identify, examine and synthesise the information about common strategies from evidence-based psychological interventions for AUDs by conducting a review of systematic reviews, that is, a meta-review. We isolated the relevant primary studies from eligible systematic reviews and extracted information about the interventions from these studies to understand the strategies used. Analysis was restricted to narrative summaries. Key Findings: Thirteen reviews were eligible for inclusion in our meta-review. Of these, eight demonstrated the effectiveness of a range of psychological interventions-behavioural couples therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy combined with motivational interviewing, brief interventions, contingency management, psychotherapy plus brief interventions, Alcoholics Anonymous and 12-step treatment programs, family-therapy or family-involved treatment, and community reinforcement approach. The most commonly used component strategies in effective interventions for AUDs included assessment, personalised feedback, motivational interviewing, goal setting, setting and review of homework, problem solving skills and relapse prevention/management. Implications: Evidence about commonly used strategies in evidence-based psychological interventions for AUDs offer the possibility of creating menu-driven interventions that can be tailored to respond to individual client needs and preferences in different contexts.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a transdiagnostic intervention for alcohol misuse and psychological distress in humanitarian settings: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in Uganda

“…The CHANGE intervention is a brief, transdiagnostic psychological intervention which is based on PM + and enhanced with evidence-based strategies to address problematic alcohol use. The intervention was developed through a systematic intervention adaptation process (described in a separate publication) including a meta-review of evidence-based intervention strategies [ 19 ]. PM + includes strategies such as problem-solving, stress management, behavioural activation, and accessing social support.…”

“…It was informed by PM + and includes additional strategies such as stress management to address alcohol misuse. These additional evidence-based strategies for addressing AUDs were identified through a meta-review [ 19 ].…”

Telehealth-delivered Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder: Patient Perspectives in the Age of COVID-19

“…We focused on psychotherapy because it is the most commonly used evidence-based treatment for AUD. 23,24 To identify potential participants, we obtained electronic health record (EHR) data from both VA and MM for adult primary care patients with ICD codes indicating AUD (i.e., F10.1, F10.2, and F10.9). Second, we reviewed the EHR for these patients to confirm study inclusion and exclusion criteria.…”

“…Herein, telehealth-delivered psychotherapy refers specifically to psychotherapy for AUD completed via phone or video and will be referred to as teletherapy, care, and treatment throughout the manuscript. We focused on psychotherapy because it is the most commonly used evidence-based treatment for AUD 23,24 …”

Using Theory of Change to Plan for the Implementation of a Psychological Intervention Addressing Alcohol Use Disorder and Psychological Distress in Uganda

“…The CHANGE intervention seeks to address this gap, by including strategies into PM+ that can target AUDs (such as personal feedback, goal setting and planning change, cognitive behavioral skills such as drink refusal, and relapse management). CHANGE is delivered by lay health workers and is composed of six individual face-to-face sessions (Fuhr et al, 2021 ; Nadkarni et al, 2023b ). The effectiveness of CHANGE is currently being evaluated through a randomized controlled trial with South Sudanese refugee men in Rhino camp settlement, northern Uganda.…”