Brief Interventions and Goal Setting

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Brief Interventions and Goal Setting

Feature Articles - Women-Specific

Written by Grace Chang, MD, MPH

Tuesday, 04 March 2008 08:25

Brief interventions are a treatment modality that has been well studied in the clinical research setting. Among psychosocial treatments, brief interventions for hazardous drinking have the strongest support of efficacy (Miller & Willbourne, 2002). They have been offered to adults in primary care settings, general hospitals and specialty clinics, such as emergency rooms and prenatal care, among others (Ballesteros et al., 2004; Emmen et al., 2004; Handmaker & Willbourne, 2001). The professional addictions counselor may be called upon to offer brief interventions, or to give treatment subsequent to brief interventions.

Brief interventions are based on motivational interviewing. Effective interventions to reduce alcohol misuse take about 15 minutes and cover feedback, advice and goal setting (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2004). Four specific steps of brief interventions are well described in the recently revised publication, Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much, A Clinician’s Guide (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005).
The first step consists of asking about alcohol use to help determine whether your client is an at-risk drinker. The second step is to assess for alcohol disorders. This critical step will help determine whether the client is engaged in “a maladaptive pattern of alcohol use.” The third step is the brief intervention, whereby the clinician “advises and assists” the individual (U.S. Department of Brief interventions are based on motivational interviewing.

Effective interventions to reduce alcohol misuse take about 15 minutes and cover feedback, advice and goal setting (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2004). Four specific steps of brief interventions are well described in the recently revised publication, Helping Patients Who Drink Too Much, A Clinician’s Guide (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2005).

The first step consists of asking about alcohol use to help determine whether your client is an at-risk drinker. The second step is to assess for alcohol disorders. This critical step will help determine whether the client is engaged in “a maladaptive pattern of alcohol use.” The third step is the brief intervention, whereby the clinician “advises and assists” the individual (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). This step may be tailored to reflect the severity of the alcohol problem, as well as the individual’s readiness to make a change. The fourth step allows for continued support at follow-up. Knowledge about the most appropriate individuals for brief interventions (usually non-treatment seeking people without severe problems) and the duration of effects (about 12 months) continues to evolve (Moyer et al., 2002).

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