Article

OBJECTIVE: : To investigate the effectiveness of brief intervention for modifying
alcohol expectancies, readiness to change, and problem alcohol use in persons
with traumatic brain injury (TBI). DESIGN: : Randomized controlled trial, with
3-month follow-up. SETTING: : Three level I Trauma Centers. PARTICIPANTS: : One
hundred four persons with complicated mild, moderate, or severe TBI, with
preinjury problem alcohol use, who had emerged from posttraumatic amnesia.
INTERVENTION: : Twenty- to 30-minute brief intervention (education and
motivational interview). MAIN MEASURES: : Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire-III
Global Positive Expectancies and Cognitive and Physical Impairment scales;
Readiness to Change Questionnaire; problem alcohol use. RESULTS: : After
controlling for relevant covariates, there was an effect of treatment on
expectation that alcohol use would result in cognitive and physical impairment.
This effect was moderated by injury severity, and was only effective for those
with severe injury. There was no treatment effect on global positive
expectancies, readiness to change, or problem alcohol use. Attribution of injury
to alcohol use was associated with the expectation that alcohol use would result
in cognitive and physical impairment, and at one center, in greater readiness to
change. CONCLUSIONS: : Although the brief intervention did not have an impact on
problem alcohol use, positive alcohol expectancies, or readiness to change, the
results of this study suggest that brief intervention can be effective for
educating on the negative impact of alcohol use for people with severe TBI who
have emerged from posttraumatic amnesia. Attribution of the injury to alcohol use
could potentially increase readiness to change in some settings, and might be
used to generate discussion about the negative impact of alcohol use.

Langue : ANGLAIS