Assessing the effectiveness of brief interventional group therapy on severity of illness, readiness for change, self-efficacy and motivation levels in patients with alcohol use disorder: A pre-post study.

Abstract

Background: There has been an increase in the estimated burden of alcohol use disorders (AUD) in countries like India. Treatment of AUD needs to be multi model and can be pharmacological and Psychological is their approach. Brief interventions are an effective approach to reducing drinking.

Aim: To assess if brief group intervention has any change in the motivation stage, readiness to change scores, self efficacy levels of an individual.

Materials & method: Alcohol use disorder patients were included and pre intervention scales-Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire {SADQ}, Stage of change readiness and treatment eagerness, General Self efficacy scale, University of Rhodes Island change assessment scale were applied. Three Group sessions were taken on a weekly basis and scales were re applied at the end of 12 weeks.

Results: A total of 83.33% of the participants were in early remission, the SADQ scores decreased in all participants, and 60% were in the Action phase of Motivation. Approximately 80% had a high score on the taking steps component of readiness to change scale and there was a statistically significant increase in the mean self efficacy score post intervention.

Conclusion: Brief group intervention involving psychoeducation and motivational enhancement techniques is a low cost, simple, and time saving behavioral intervention that not only increases rates of early remission but also leads to change in motivation and self efficacy levels.