title: A pilot study comparing motivational interviewing and an educational intervention in patients with schizophrenia and alcohol use disorders.
abstract: Thirty subjects with comorbid schizophrenia and alcohol use disorders were randomly assigned to receive either a Motivational Interviewing (MI) or Educational Treatment (ET) intervention with treatment goals of abstinence and/or decreased alcohol use. Subjects were followed up at 4, 8 and 24-weeks upon completion of the interventions. Outcome measures included number of drinking days, abstinence rates, average blood alcohol concentration and standard ethanol content per drinking day. Subjects randomized to the MI intervention had a significant reduction in drinking days and an increase in abstinence rates when compared to subjects receiving ET. Motivational Interviewing may be a useful treatment intervention for individuals with schizophrenia and alcoholism.
authors.affiliation: New Mexico VA Health Care System and the University of New Mexico Health Science Center, San Pedro SE, Albquerque 87108, USA. david.graeber@med.va.gov
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Graeber
authors.forename: Theresa B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Moyers
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Eliseo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guajardo
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tonigan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009516:New Mexico; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome