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Introduction: Internet interventions for alcohol problems are effective, but not all participants are helped. Further, the importance of adherence has often been neglected in research on internet interventions for alcohol problems. Prediction analysis can help in prospectively assessing participants’ probability of success, and ideally, this information could be used to tailor internet interventions to individual needs. Methods: Data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial on internet interventions for alcohol use disorders. Twenty-nine candidate predictors were run in univariate logistic regressions with two dichotomous dependent outcomes: adherence (defined as completing at least 60% of the treatment modules) and low-risk drinking (defined as drinking within national public health guidelines) at two time points – immediately post-treatment and at the 6-month follow-up. Significant predictors were entered hierarchically into domain-specific logistic regressions. In the final models, predictors still showing significant effects were run in multiple logistic regressions. Results: One predictor significantly predicted adherence: treatment credibility (as in how logical the treatment is and how successful one perceives the treatment to be) assessed during the third week of the intervention. Four predictors significantly predicted low-risk drinking at the post-treatment follow-up: pre-treatment abstinence (i.e., not drinking during the 7 days before treatment started), being of the male gender, and two personality factors – a low degree of antagonism and a high degree of alexithymia. At the 6-month follow-up, pre-treatment abstinence was the only significant predictor. Conclusion: Adherence was not predictive of low-risk drinking. Personality variables may have predictive value and should be studied further. Those who abstain from alcohol during the week before treatment starts have a higher likelihood of achieving low-risk drinking than people who initially continue drinking.

Aims Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT) is a support program for concerned significant others (CSOs) to identified persons (IPs) with alcohol use disorders, with the purpose of engaging IPs to treatment and to improve CSO functioning. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of an internet-based version of CRAFT (iCRAFT). Methods Randomized controlled trial comparing iCRAFT with a wait-list (WL) condition with a nation-wide uptake in Sweden. A total of 94 CSOs to a treatment refusing IP, who described the IP according to DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence or abuse, were included in the study. iCRAFT consisted of five weekly administered therapist-guided modules with the following content: (a) improve CSOs’ own mental health, (b) improve the CSOs skills in asking the IP to seek treatment, (c) positive communication skills training, (d) contingency management of IP drinking behavior. Main outcome measure was IPs initiative to seek treatment measured at 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes were IP’s daily alcohol consumption, CSOs mental health, quality of life and relational satisfaction. Results Of 94 participants, 15 CSOs reported IP treatment initiative during the study period. Of these, 10 belonged to the iCRAFT condition and five to the WL condition. The difference between conditions was nonsignificant, and the results were inconclusive. Participants in iCRAFT showed short-term improvements regarding depressive symptoms, quality of life and relational happiness. Conclusion This study was unable to demonstrate substantial changes in the iCRAFT program regarding IP treatment seeking or CSO mental health.

Aims To test the efficacy of a therapist-guided high-intensity internet intervention compared with an unguided low-intensity internet intervention among individuals with alcohol use disorder. Design A three-group randomized controlled trial with follow-up assessments post-treatment (12 weeks) and 6 months post-randomization (primary end-point). Settings General population sample in Sweden. Participants A total of 166 on-line self-referred adults (49% males) with a score of 14 (females)/16 (males) or more on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, a preceding week alcohol consumption of 11 (females)/14 (males) or more standard drinks and an alcohol use disorder according to a diagnostic interview. Interventions and comparators Both the high- (n = 72) and low-intensity internet interventions (n = 71) consisted of modules based on relapse prevention. Controls were on a waiting-list (n = 23), and were only followed until the post-treatment follow-up. Participants were randomized at a 7 : 7 : 2 ratio. Measurements Primary outcome was self-reported alcohol consumption in the preceding week measured as (1) number of standard drinks and (2) number of heavy drinking days at the 6-month follow-up. Findings Alcohol use disorders were largely in the severe category (74.7%), with the majority of participants having had alcohol problems for more than 5 years. Attrition was 13 and 22% at the post-treatment and 6-month follow-up, respectively. At the 6-month follow-up, an intent-to-treat analysis showed no significant differences in alcohol consumption between the high- and low-intensity interventions [standard drinks d = -0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.50 to 0.16; heavy drinking days: d = -0.07, 95% CI = -0.40 to 0.26]. Prevalence of negative effects was somewhat low (8-14%) in both intervention groups, as was deterioration (3-5%). Conclusions At 6-month follow-up, there were no significant differences between a therapist-guided high-intensity internet intervention and an unguided low-intensity internet intervention in reducing alcohol consumption among individuals with an alcohol use disorder.

CITATION: Watson, R., et al. 2016. Proceedings of the 13th annual conference of INEBRIA. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 11:13, doi:10.1186/s13722-016-0062-9.