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Effectiveness of a controlled drinking self‐help manual: One‐year follow‐up results
Author(s) -
Heather Nick,
Robertson Ian,
MacPherson Barbara,
Allsop Steven,
Fulton Archibald
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
british journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0144-6657
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1987.tb01361.x
Subject(s) - psychology , cohort , consumption (sociology) , sample (material) , telephone interview , clinical psychology , medicine , social science , chemistry , chromatography , sociology
Following the description of six‐month follow‐up results by Heather et al. (1986), this article reports one‐year follow‐up for a cohort of media‐recruited problem drinkers sent either a controlled drinking self‐help manual or a general advice and information booklet. Among those remaining in the sample, mean reduction in drinking at six months had been retained at the one‐year point. This stability of reduced consumption included respondents showing evidence of late dependence or high consumption at initial assessment. When respondents who had received other forms of treatment had been excluded, the results confirmed the superior effectiveness of the self‐help manual in enabling problem drinkers to reduce consumption. Evidence for a superior outcome among respondents interviewed by telephone, rather than contacted solely by post, was again observed. Some limited evidence is presented as to the reliability and validity of self‐reports of consumption in the main sample.