Improving Brief Alcohol Interventions With a Behavioral Economic Supplement
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Memphis
- Enrollment
- 393
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in Alcohol-related Problems from baseline to follow-up (4 timepoints)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a Substance-Free Activity Session (SFAS) as a supplement to a brief motivation intervention (BMI) in reducing alcohol use and alcohol-related consequences in college students.
Detailed Description
BMIs are associated with reductions in alcohol consumption and related problems, but effect sizes are generally small. One BMI trial indicated that behavioral economic variables such as low levels of proportionate substance-free reinforcement and inelastic demand for alcohol predicted poor intervention response, and that participants who successfully reduced their drinking increased their participation in academic and other substance-free activities. A subsequent NIAAA R21 developed a substance-free activity session (SFAS) supplement to traditional alcohol BMIs that attempted to increase engagement in constructive alternatives to drinking by enhancing the salience of delayed rewards (academic and career success) and the patterns of behavior (academic engagement) leading to these outcomes. This study indicated that a two session (alcohol BMI + SFAS) preventive intervention resulted in significantly greater reductions in alcohol problems relative to a two session (alcohol BMI + Relaxation) active control condition. The BMI+ SFAS was also associated with significantly greater reductions in heavy drinking for participants with lower levels of substance-free reinforcement at baseline. This was the first controlled study to demonstrate that a supplement to traditional BMIs can improve outcomes. The current study will extend these promising pilot results by (a) increasing the efficacy of the behavioral economic SFAS by including booster contact, (b) increasing power and generalizability by recruiting 425 students from two universities and including a no-treatment control group, (c) measuring drinking, as well as behavioral economic mechanisms as mediators and moderators of intervention outcomes (delay discounting, alcohol reinforcing efficacy, substance-free reinforcement) at 5 time points over a sixteen month period, and (d) evaluating the economic costs and benefits associated with the SFAS. The goals of the SFAS - increasing student engagement in academic, campus, and career-related activities- are consistent with the priorities of most colleges.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Treatment
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 27 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •Male and female University of Memphis and University of Missouri
- •College freshman or sophomore
- •Full time student status
- •Report 2 or more heavy drinking episodes (5/4 drinks for men/women) in the past month
Exclusion Criteria
- •Employed more than 20 hours per week
Arms & Interventions
BMI + SFAS
Participants first receive a 50-minute standard brief motivational intervention designed to reduce alcohol use. A week later, they will receive the SFAS (Substance-free Activity Session., a 50-minute counseling session designed to increase the salience of the student's academic and career goals, draw attention to the potentially negative relationship between substance use and goal accomplishment, and increase engagement in substance-free alternative activities. The SFAS will be described to participants as the "College Adjustment Session" and the session will be conducted using an MI plus personalized feedback approach.
Intervention: Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) (Behavioral)
BMI + SFAS
Participants first receive a 50-minute standard brief motivational intervention designed to reduce alcohol use. A week later, they will receive the SFAS (Substance-free Activity Session., a 50-minute counseling session designed to increase the salience of the student's academic and career goals, draw attention to the potentially negative relationship between substance use and goal accomplishment, and increase engagement in substance-free alternative activities. The SFAS will be described to participants as the "College Adjustment Session" and the session will be conducted using an MI plus personalized feedback approach.
Intervention: Substance-Free Activity Session (SFAS) (Behavioral)
BMI + Relaxation Session
Participants first receive a 50-minute standard brief motivational intervention designed to reduce alcohol use. A week later, they will receive a relaxation training session. In the relaxation training session, the clinician leads the student through a diaphragmatic breathing exercise, followed by a progressive muscle relaxation protocol (~30 minutes). At the end of the session, participants will be asked about their reaction to the relaxation techniques and provided with relaxation training handouts.
Intervention: Brief Motivational Intervention (BMI) (Behavioral)
BMI + Relaxation Session
Participants first receive a 50-minute standard brief motivational intervention designed to reduce alcohol use. A week later, they will receive a relaxation training session. In the relaxation training session, the clinician leads the student through a diaphragmatic breathing exercise, followed by a progressive muscle relaxation protocol (~30 minutes). At the end of the session, participants will be asked about their reaction to the relaxation techniques and provided with relaxation training handouts.
Intervention: Relaxation Session (Behavioral)
Assessment
Participants will fill out a battery of measures and receive no intervention.
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in Alcohol-related Problems from baseline to follow-up (4 timepoints)
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-month, 6-months, 12-months and 16-months
Self-reported alcohol-related consequences
Change in Alcohol Use from baseline to follow-up (4 timepoints)
Time Frame: Baseline, 1-month, 6-months, 12-months and 16-months
Self-reported drinks consumed in a typical week
Secondary Outcomes
No secondary outcomes reported
Investigators
James G Murphy
Professor
University of Memphis