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Witkiewitz K, Tuchman FR. Designing and testing treatments for alcohol use disorder. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 175:277-312. [PMID: 38555119 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
This chapter provides a succinct overview of several recommendations for the design and analysis of treatments for AUD with a specific focus on increasing rigor and generalizability of treatment studies in order to increase the reach of AUD treatment. We recommend that researchers always register their trials in a clinical trial registry and make the protocol accessible so that the trial can be replicated in future work, follow CONSORT reporting guidelines when reporting the results of the trial, carefully describe all inclusion and exclusion criteria as well as the randomization scheme, and always use an intent to treat design with attention to analysis of missing data. In addition, we recommend that researchers pay closer attention to recruitment and engagement strategies that increase enrollment and retention of historically marginalized and understudied populations, and we end with a plea for more consideration of implementation science approaches to increase the dissemination and implementation of AUD treatment in real-world settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Witkiewitz
- Department of Psychology and Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States.
| | - Felicia R Tuchman
- Department of Psychology and Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
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Douglas A, Garrett E, Staggs J, Williams C, Shepard S, Wise A, Hillman C, Ottwell R, Hartwell M, Vassar M. Reporting of patient-reported outcomes in trials on alcohol use disorder: a meta-epidemiological study. BMJ Evid Based Med 2023; 28:21-29. [PMID: 35470132 DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2021-111876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Currently, limited research exists to assess the extent of patient-reported outcome (PRO) reporting among randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating alcohol use disorder (AUD). We sought to investigate the completeness of reporting of PROs using the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials-PRO (CONSORT-PRO) extension in AUD RCTs. DESIGN SETTING Meta-epidemiological study. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) on 29 June 2021 for published RCTs focused on AUD. Following these searches, title and abstract screening, and full-text screening were performed by two investigators. To be included, a study must have employed a randomised trial design, published in English, focused on treatment of AUD and included at least one PRO. Trials meeting inclusion criteria were evaluated for completeness of reporting using the CONSORT-PRO extension adaptation. These trials were also evaluated for risk of bias (RoB) using the Cochrane RoB V.2.0 tool. Additionally, an exploratory analysis of each RCT's therapeutic area was extracted using the Mapi Research Trust's ePROVIDE platform. Screening and data collection were all performed in masked, duplicate fashion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES PRO completeness of reporting, identification of factors associated with completeness of reporting and PRO measures used in RCTs to evaluate patients with AUD. RESULTS Nineteen RCTs were evaluated in our analysis. Our primary outcome, the mean completion score for CONSORT-PRO, was 40.8%. Our secondary outcome-the identification of factors associated with completeness of reporting-found that trials published after 2014 (ie, 1 year after the publication of the CONSORT-PRO extension) were 15.0% more complete than trials published before 2014. We found no additional associations with better reporting. CONCLUSIONS We found that the completeness of PRO reporting in RCTs involving AUD was deficient. Complete reporting of PROs is instrumental in understanding the effects of interventions, encourages patient participation in their treatment and may increase clinician confidence in the value of PROs. High quality treatment strategies for AUD require properly reported PROs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Douglas
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Elizabeth Garrett
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jordan Staggs
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Cole Williams
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Samuel Shepard
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Audrey Wise
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Cody Hillman
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ryan Ottwell
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Micah Hartwell
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Matt Vassar
- Office of Medical Student Research, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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Hallgren KA. Remotely Assessing Mechanisms of Behavioral Change in Community Substance Use Disorder Treatment to Facilitate Measurement-Informed Care: Pilot Longitudinal Questionnaire Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e42376. [DOI: 10.2196/42376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Research shows that improvements in coping strategies, abstinence self-efficacy, craving, and depression are potential mechanisms of behavioral change (MOBC) in treatments for substance use disorders (SUDs). However, little is known about how these insights regarding MOBC can be applied to SUD treatment settings. One way to facilitate MOBC-informed care in frontline settings could be to measure and monitor changes in MOBC throughout treatment using brief, frequent questionnaires that patients complete by using mobile technologies (eg, smartphones). The results derived from these questionnaires could potentially be used for clinical monitoring (ie, measurement-based care) to better understand whether individual patients are experiencing treatment-related improvements on key clinical targets.
Objective
This study evaluated whether brief, weekly MOBC questionnaires completed by patients remotely can potentially provide clinically meaningful information about changes in MOBC in the context of real-world, community-based SUD treatment.
Methods
A total of 30 patients (14/30, 47% female; 13/30, 43% racial or ethnic minority) in a community SUD treatment clinic participated in a pilot study where they were invited to complete brief, weekly questionnaires that assessed various MOBC, including coping strategies, abstinence self-efficacy, craving, depression, and therapeutic alliance. Questionnaires were typically completed remotely via smartphone for up to 6 months; 618 questionnaires were completed in total. Participants also completed longer, psychometrically validated measures of the same MOBC at baseline and 6-month research appointments. Statistical analyses tested whether brief, weekly, remotely completed MOBC questionnaires exhibited characteristics that would be desirable for real-world longitudinal clinical monitoring, including a tendency to detect within-person changes in MOBC over time; cross-sectional and longitudinal associations with longer, psychometrically validated measures completed at research appointments; and similar patterns of associations with 6-month percentage of days abstinent as longer, psychometrically validated MOBC measures completed at research appointments.
Results
The results of this study indicated that the brief, weekly, remotely completed MOBC measures exhibited characteristics that are desirable for clinical monitoring, including a tendency to vary longitudinally (within patients over time) more often than measures of alcohol and drug consumption, generally having medium to large cross-sectional and longitudinal correlations with longer psychometrically validated measures of MOBC completed at research appointments, and generally having similar patterns of association with 6-month percentage of days abstinent from alcohol and drugs as longer psychometrically validated MOBC measures completed at research appointments.
Conclusions
The results of this pilot study provide initial evidence that incorporating brief, weekly, and remotely completed MOBC questionnaires into community SUD treatment may be a viable approach for facilitating MOBC-informed care. Such questionnaires can potentially support measurement-based care by providing meaningful information about within-patient changes in clinical domains that are often directly targeted in SUD treatments and predict long-term substance use outcomes.
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Abstract
Objective To determine if low resting basal AM cortisol and flat diurnal cortisol slope that has been reported in female abuse victims, which is dysregulated in the same way in female violent perpetrators, could be corrected and if healthier diurnal cortisol patterns are associated with less aggression in adult female victims. Design and Methods A non-experimental, naturalistic study evaluated if bio-behavioral rehabilitation could occur for females living in a Delaware homeless mission and participating in their programs. Basal salivary cortisol (AM, PM & slope), aggression, neurological conditions, general health, alcohol use, having been a victim of abuse, religion, spirituality and forgiveness were evaluated over one month between 2018 and 2019. Results T tests revealed significant improvement in mean cortisol (AM, PM & slope), aggression, emotional/ behavioral dyscontrol, and health over one month while participating in the mission’s programs. Paired t-tests however were only significant for aggression and health. Healthier cortisol was significantly correlated with greater time since last alcohol, greater time since last abuse, less aggression, better health and greater religion, spirituality and forgiveness. Conclusion Community programs could be cost effective methods of post-traumatic bio-behavioral rehabilitation. Forgiveness may play a critical role for abuse victims. A larger sample and more settings are needed, although these findings are promising.
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Post-Traumatic Bio-Behavioral Rehabilitation of Adult Female Victims. Dela J Public Health 2021. [DOI: 10.32481/djph.2021.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Lindner P, Johansson M, Gajecki M, Berman AH. Using alcohol consumption diary data from an internet intervention for outcome and predictive modeling: a validation and machine learning study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2020; 20:111. [PMID: 32393245 PMCID: PMC7212621 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-020-00995-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is highly prevalent and presents a large treatment gap. Self-help internet interventions are an attractive approach to lowering thresholds for seeking help and disseminating evidence-based programs at scale. Internet interventions for AUD however suffer from high attrition and since continuous outcome measurements are uncommon, little is known about trajectories and processes. The current study investigates whether data from a non-mandatory alcohol consumption diary, common in internet interventions for AUD, approximates drinks reported at follow-up, and whether data from the first half of the intervention predict treatment success. METHODS N = 607 participants enrolled in a trial of online self-help for AUD, made an entry in the non-mandatory consumption diary (total of 9117 entries), and completed the follow-up assessment. Using multiple regression and a subset of calendar data overlapping with the follow-up, scaling factors were derived to account for missing entries per participant and week. Generalized estimating equations with an inverse time predictor were then used to calculate point-estimates of drinks per week at follow-up, the confidence intervals of which were compared to that from the measurement at follow-up. Next, calendar data form the first half of the intervention were retained and summary functions used to create 18 predictors for random forest machine learning models, the classification accuracies of which were ultimately estimated using nested cross-validation. RESULTS While the raw calendar data substantially underestimated drinks reported at follow-up, the confidence interval of the trajectory-derived point-estimate from the adjusted data overlapped with the confidence interval of drinks reported at follow-up. Machine learning models achieved prediction accuracies of 64% (predicting non-hazardous drinking) and 48% (predicting AUD severity decrease), in both cases with higher sensitivity than specificity. CONCLUSIONS Data from a non-mandatory alcohol consumption diary, adjusted for missing entries, approximates follow-up data at a group level, suggesting that such data can be used to reveal trajectories and processes during treatment and possibly be used to impute missing follow-up data. At an individual level, however, calendar data from the first half of the intervention did not have high predictive accuracy, presumable due to a high rate of missing data and unclear missing mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lindner
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Magnus Johansson
- Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mikael Gajecki
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne H Berman
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Flores-Aranda J, Goyette M, Larose-Osterrath C. Online Intervention as Strategy to Reach Men Who Have Sex With Other Men and Who Use Substances in a Sexual Context. Development of the MONBUZZ.ca Project. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:183. [PMID: 31024354 PMCID: PMC6465970 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Men who have sex with men (MSM) use more psychoactive substances and a greater variety of them compared to their heterosexual peers. In this population, substance use is particularly characterized by polydrug use, binge, and sexualized substance use. MSM who use substances do not recognize themselves in public health messages targeting substance users. In addition, they recognize their problematic substance use later than heterosexuals and, as a result, they use addiction services later in their addiction trajectories. When accessing addiction services, the links between drug use and sexual life are rarely considered. Because of this profile, online interventions are a promising way to reach this hard-to-reach population. Currently available online interventions targeting MSM address the topics of substance use and sexual life separately. To deal with this situation, our team wanted to develop an online intervention platform for MSM who use substances in a sexual context. Given that online addiction interventions do not address sex and that MSM drug use is highly related to sexual activity, we first explored the literature related to online interventions targeting MSM and HIV risk behaviors, as well as online interventions targeting general population in order to: (1) identify relevant (or personalized) intervention methods; (2) describe the approaches used; and (3) describe their effects. Second, we turned to the literature to develop the MONBUZZ.ca project in collaboration with community organizations. The results of the narrative review provided a critical portrait of online interventions for MSM and guided the development process of MONBUZZ.ca. We discuss issues of co-development of a research and brief intervention tool based on promising practices as well as challenges of its implementation and evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Flores-Aranda
- Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé et de Services Sociaux, Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Institut Universitaire sur les Dépendances, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Mathieu Goyette
- Département des Sciences de la Santé Communautaire, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Brewer-Smyth K, Pohlig RT. Risk Factors for Women Being Under the Influence of Alcohol Compared With Other Illicit Substances at the Time of Committing Violent Crimes. JOURNAL OF FORENSIC NURSING 2017; 13:186-195. [PMID: 29176519 PMCID: PMC6437756 DOI: 10.1097/jfn.0000000000000177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We investigated women under the influence of alcohol compared with other illicit substances at the time of committing a crime to identify predictors of being under the influence of alcohol and female-enacted crime. METHODS Analyses of data, obtained from private interviews and examinations of female prison inmates, included regression analyses exploring predictors of being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime and predictors of violent crime. In addition, a reanalysis of a previously reported model, predicting conviction of a violent crime, was conducted including a new variable, being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime. RESULTS Those under the influence of alcohol at the time of their crime had experienced greater nonfamilial childhood sexual abuse and traumatic brain injuries with loss of consciousness predating their crime. They were more likely to have committed a violent, rather than nonviolent, crime compared with those under the influence of other substances, with the latter being not significantly different for those not under the influence of any substance. Being under the influence of alcohol increased the risk of committing a violent crime, adjusting for other predictors of female violence. CONCLUSION Women under the influence of alcohol are at a greater risk for committing violent crimes than those under the influence of other substances. Female nonfamilial childhood sexual abuse and traumatic brain injury victims were at a higher risk for being under the influence of alcohol, in comparison with other substances, at the time of committing a violent crime.
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Validation of a new patient-reported outcome instrument of health-related quality of life specific to patients with alcohol use disorder: the Alcohol Quality of Life Scale (AQoLS). Qual Life Res 2015; 25:1549-60. [DOI: 10.1007/s11136-015-1190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Witkiewitz K, Finney JW, Harris AH, Kivlahan DR, Kranzler HR. Recommendations for the Design and Analysis of Treatment Trials for Alcohol Use Disorders. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2015; 39:1557-70. [PMID: 26250333 PMCID: PMC4558228 DOI: 10.1111/acer.12800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the past 60 years, the view that "alcoholism" is a disease for which the only acceptable goal of treatment is abstinence has given way to the recognition that alcohol use disorders (AUDs) occur on a continuum of severity, for which a variety of treatment options are appropriate. However, because the available treatments for AUDs are not effective for everyone, more research is needed to develop novel and more efficacious treatments to address the range of AUD severity in diverse populations. Here we offer recommendations for the design and analysis of alcohol treatment trials, with a specific focus on the careful conduct of randomized clinical trials of medications and nonpharmacological interventions for AUDs. METHODS This paper provides a narrative review of the quality of published clinical trials and recommendations for the optimal design and analysis of treatment trials for AUDs. RESULTS Despite considerable improvements in the design of alcohol clinical trials over the past 2 decades, many studies of AUD treatments have used faulty design features and statistical methods that are known to produce biased estimates of treatment efficacy. CONCLUSIONS The published statistical and methodological literatures provide clear guidance on methods to improve clinical trial design and analysis. Consistent use of state-of-the-art design features and analytic approaches will enhance the internal and external validity of treatment trials for AUDs across the spectrum of severity. The ultimate result of this attention to methodological rigor is that better treatment options will be identified for patients with an AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Witkiewitz
- Department of Psychology and Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse, and Addictions, University of New Mexico
| | - John W. Finney
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA
| | - Alex H.S Harris
- VA Substance Use Disorder Quality Enhancement Research Initiative, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA
| | - Daniel R. Kivlahan
- Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Henry R. Kranzler
- Center for Studies of Addiction, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and VISN4 MIRECC, Philadelphia VAMC, Philadelphia, PA
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Effectiveness of guided and unguided low-intensity internet interventions for adult alcohol misuse: a meta-analysis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99912. [PMID: 24937483 PMCID: PMC4061051 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alcohol misuse ranks within the top ten health conditions with the highest global burden of disease. Low-intensity, Internet interventions for curbing adult alcohol misuse have been shown effective. Few meta-analyses have been carried out, however, and they have involved small numbers of studies, lacked indicators of drinking within low risk guidelines, and examined the effectiveness of unguided self-help only. We therefore conducted a more thorough meta-analysis that included both guided and unguided interventions. Methods Systematic literature searches were performed up to September 2013. Primary outcome was the mean level of alcohol consumption and drinking within low risk guidelines for alcohol consumption at post-treatment. Findings We selected 16 randomised controlled trials (with 23 comparisons and 5,612 participants) for inclusion. Results, showed a small but significant overall effect size in favour of Internet interventions (g = 0.20, 95% CI: 0.13–0.27, p<.001). Participants in Internet interventions drunk on average 22 grams of ethanol less than controls and were significantly more likely to be adhering to low-risk drinking guidelines at post-treatment (RD 0.13, 95% CI: 0.09–0.17, p<.001). Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in potential moderators for the outcome of alcohol consumption, although there was a near-significant difference between comparisons with waitlist control and those with assessment-only or alcohol information control conditions (p = .056). Conclusions Internet interventions are effective in reducing adult alcohol consumption and inducing alcohol users to adhere to guidelines for low-risk drinking. This effect is small but from a public health point of view this may warrant large scale implementation at low cost of Internet interventions for adult alcohol misuse. Moderator analyses with sufficient power are, however, needed in order to assess the robustness of these overall results and to assess whether these interventions may impact on subgroups with different levels of success.
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