BACKGROUND: The present study examined the efficacy of various specific lifestyle and situation-specific coping skills by determining the relationship of each of these strategies to drinking outcomes. METHODS:Patients with alcohol dependence in intensive day treatment (n=165) were participating in a randomized trial of naltrexone versus placebo and adjunctive communication and coping skills training or a control treatment. The alcohol version of the Urge-Specific Strategies (USS) questionnaire and the General Strategies for Alcoholics (GSA) were administered early in treatment. The USS assesses 16 situation-specific strategies taught in cue exposure treatment, communication skills training, or relaxation/meditation training to cope with experiencing an urge to drink (e.g., think of positive and negative consequences of drinking, use mastery messages, engage in an alternative behavior); the 21-item GSA assesses lifestyle change strategies taught in communication skills training and in the general treatment program (e.g., keep busy, exercise regularly, attend 12-Step meetings, avoid high-risk situations). Alcohol use and frequency of use of the skills were assessed 6 and 12 months following treatment. RESULTS: Many specific behavioral and cognitive coping strategies were significantly related to drinking outcomes, including 13 urge-specific and 18 general lifestyle strategies, while other strategies were unrelated. CONCLUSIONS: Since some strategies taught in treatment are more effective in preventing relapse than others; treatment may be improved by focusing on these specific strategies. Since results may be limited to this population, replication is needed in more diverse settings and without medication.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The present study examined the efficacy of various specific lifestyle and situation-specific coping skills by determining the relationship of each of these strategies to drinking outcomes. METHODS:Patients with alcohol dependence in intensive day treatment (n=165) were participating in a randomized trial of naltrexone versus placebo and adjunctive communication and coping skills training or a control treatment. The alcohol version of the Urge-Specific Strategies (USS) questionnaire and the General Strategies for Alcoholics (GSA) were administered early in treatment. The USS assesses 16 situation-specific strategies taught in cue exposure treatment, communication skills training, or relaxation/meditation training to cope with experiencing an urge to drink (e.g., think of positive and negative consequences of drinking, use mastery messages, engage in an alternative behavior); the 21-item GSA assesses lifestyle change strategies taught in communication skills training and in the general treatment program (e.g., keep busy, exercise regularly, attend 12-Step meetings, avoid high-risk situations). Alcohol use and frequency of use of the skills were assessed 6 and 12 months following treatment. RESULTS: Many specific behavioral and cognitive coping strategies were significantly related to drinking outcomes, including 13 urge-specific and 18 general lifestyle strategies, while other strategies were unrelated. CONCLUSIONS: Since some strategies taught in treatment are more effective in preventing relapse than others; treatment may be improved by focusing on these specific strategies. Since results may be limited to this population, replication is needed in more diverse settings and without medication.
Authors: Christina S Lee; Steven R López; Lynn Hernández; Suzanne M Colby; Raul Caetano; Belinda Borrelli; Damaris Rohsenow Journal: Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol Date: 2011-07
Authors: P M Monti; D J Rohsenow; R M Swift; S B Gulliver; S M Colby; T I Mueller; R A Brown; A Gordon; D B Abrams; R S Niaura; M K Asher Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2001-11 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Aimee N C Campbell; L Montgomery; Katherine Sanchez; M Pavlicova; M Hu; H Newville; L Weaver; E V Nunes Journal: J Ethn Subst Abuse Date: 2017-04-03 Impact factor: 1.507
Authors: Katherine Sanchez; Robrina Walker; Aimee N C Campbell; Tracy L Greer; Mei-Chen Hu; Bruce D Grannemann; Edward V Nunes; Madhukar H Trivedi Journal: Subst Abus Date: 2014-08-01 Impact factor: 3.716