Long-term effect of brief intervention in at-risk alcohol drinkers: a 9-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
In 1986, 338 men and women attending a general population screening study were identified as at-risk alcohol drinkers and randomly assigned into three groups. Two groups received slightly different, brief interventions; a third group served as control. After 1 year there was a 50% reduction in alcohol intake in the intervention groups and a 20% increase in the control group. Controls then received advice to reduce their drinking. This study evaluates outcomes 9 years after these interventions.


METHODS
In a survey in the same city in 1995 (over 27 000 participants), 247 subjects (73.1%) from the 1986 study, were re-assessed. Serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was examined and compared with values in 1986. A 'pseudo-control' group was established to compare 'treated' and 'untreated'.


RESULTS
After 9 years, the original study groups displayed significant mean reduction in GGT. The reductions achieved in the three groups did not significantly differ from each other. However, the reductions were significantly greater than that in the 'pseudo-control' group.


CONCLUSIONS
The impact of brief intervention appears to be long lasting. At 9 years follow-up, the at-risk drinkers displayed GGT values close to that of the background population.
Nilssen
Odd
O
Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsö, N-9037 Tromsö, Norway. Odd.Nilssen@ism.uit.no
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase