title: Web-Based Self-Help for Problematic Alcohol Use: a Large Naturalistic Study.
abstract: This observational study examined user characteristics, intervention use patterns, and variables associated with reductions in alcohol consumption for anonymous Internet help-seekers using a Web-based self-help program.
  
  
  
  A Web-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program with eight modules delivered over 10 weeks was offered to participants with at least hazardous use of alcohol according to the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) (n = 4165). At baseline and 10-week follow-up, participants completed the Timeline-followback (TLFB), AUDIT, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (DUDIT), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF), Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ), and Readiness Ruler. Follow-up completers and non-completers were compared at baseline, and follow-up completer outcomes were reported. Predictors of change in drinking behavior were evaluated at follow-up.
  
  
  
  Registered users were 41.88 years old on average (SD = 12.36), and 52 % were women; the mean baseline number of drinks during the past week was 27.27 (SD = 17.92) with 62 % in the AUDIT category of probable dependence and only 7 % having low-risk consumption according to public health guidelines. At follow-up (n = 1043), 53 % showed a clinically significant change to a lower level of alcohol use (χ2= 254.403, p < 0.001); the mean alcohol consumption fell (t = 22.841, p < 0.001) and the proportion with low-risk consumption rose to 40 %. Being male, scoring higher on baseline readiness, completing the program, and accessing other support predicted low-risk drinking and clinically significant change to a lower level of alcohol use at follow-up.
  
  
  
  A publicly available Web-based program for managing problematic alcohol use attracted users with considerable alcohol- and health-related problems, which were changed to lower severity for follow-up completers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. magnus.johansson.1@ki.se.|Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden. magnus.johansson.1@ki.se.
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8583-2620
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sinadinovic
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammarberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sundström
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulric
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hermansson
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andreasson
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.|Stockholm Center for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anne H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Berman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Alcohol; Cognitive behavioral; Harmful drinking; Internet; Substance use disorders; Treatment program; eHealth