Effectiveness of opportunistic brief interventions for problem drinking in a general hospital setting: systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of opportunistic brief interventions for problem drinking in a general hospital setting.


METHODS
Systematic review.


METHODS
Medline, PsychInfo, Cochrane Library, reference lists from identified studies and review articles, and contact with experts.


METHODS
Change in alcohol consumption.


RESULTS
Eight studies were retrieved. Most had methodological weaknesses. Only one study, with a relatively intensive intervention and a short follow up period, showed a significantly large reduction in alcohol consumption in the intervention group.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence for the effectiveness of opportunistic brief interventions in a general hospital setting for problem drinkers is still inconclusive.
Emmen
Maria J
MJ
Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research, PO Box 3907 1001 AS Amsterdam, Netherlands. emmen@aiar.nl
Schippers
Gerard M
GM
Bleijenberg
Gijs
G
Wollersheim
Hub
H
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome