Screening and brief intervention for substance misuse: Does it reduce aggression and HIV-related risk behaviours?
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether reducing substance misuse through a brief motivational intervention also reduces aggression and HIV risk behaviours.


METHODS
Participants were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial in primary care if they screened positive for substance misuse. Substance misuse was assessed using the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test; aggression, using a modified version of the Explicit Aggression Scale; and HIV risk, through a count of common risk behaviours. The intervention was received on the day of the baseline interview, with a 3-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Participants who received the intervention were significantly more likely to reduce their alcohol use than those who did not; no effect was identified for other substances. In addition, participants who reduced substance misuse (whether as an effect of the intervention or not) also reduced aggression but not HIV risk behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
Reducing substance misuse through any means reduces aggression; other interventions are needed for HIV risk reduction.
Department of Psychology and Safety and Violence Initiative, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa catherine.ward@uct.ac.za.
Catherine L
CL
Ward
Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA, USA.
Jennifer R
JR
Mertens
School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
Graham F
GF
Bresick
Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
Francesca
F
Little
Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA, USA.
Constance M
CM
Weisner
D000293:Adolescent; D000374:Aggression; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008403:Mass Screening; D062405:Motivational Interviewing / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000379:methods; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013019:South Africa; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives