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Reconsidering alcohol treatment non-responders: psychosocial functioning among heavy drinkers 3 years following treatment

Pearson MR, Wilson AD, Richards DK, Witkiewitz K

Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2021

1,726 participants

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Psychosocial functioning among individuals who exceed low-risk drinking limits (exceed three to four standard drinks for women/men) is heterogeneous. Among those who receive treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), recent research found that more than one-half of those who exceeded low-risk limits (i.e. treatment non-responders) reported good psychosocial functioning, commensurate with those who were abstinent or low-risk drinkers (i.e. treatment responders) up to 1 year following treatment. This study aimed to determine if good levels of psychosocial functioning are maintained beyond 1 year.

DESIGN: Secondary analysis of 3-year follow-up data from Project MATCH (Matching Alcoholism Treatment to Client Heterogeneity) and the Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Interventions study (COMBINE), multi-site alcohol clinical trials conducted in the United States.

SETTING: Eleven sites in COMBINE and nine sites in Project MATCH.

PARTICIPANTS: Individuals with AUD from COMBINE and Project MATCH (n = 1383 and n = 1726) characterized in terms of drinking/functioning at 1-year follow-up and retained at 3-year (n = 641 and n = 790) post-treatment follow-ups.

MEASUREMENTS: Alcohol consumption measured by Form-90 and psychosocial functioning assessed by various instruments at 3 years post-treatment FINDINGS: High-functioning non-responders at 1 year post-treatment maintained a high level of functioning 2 years later and were not significantly different from the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 1,726 participants or records.

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