Brief web-based intervention for college students with comorbid risky alcohol use and depressed mood: Does it work and for whom?

Abstract College is a time of increased risk for problematic alcohol use and depressed mood. The comorbidity of these conditions is well documented, but is less well understood, with few interventions designed to prevent or reduce the related consequences. The current study evaluated a web-based per...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Addictive behaviors 2015-03, Vol.42, p.36-43
Main Authors: Geisner, Irene M, Varvil-Weld, Lindsey, Mittmann, Angela J, Mallett, Kimberly, Turrisi, Rob
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Alcohol use
Alcoholism - epidemiology
Alcoholism - psychology
Alcoholism - therapy
College students
Comorbidity
Depressed mood
Depression - epidemiology
Depression - psychology
Depression - therapy
Female
Humans
Internet
Intervention
Male
Mental depression
Psychiatry
Psychotherapy, Brief - methods
Risk assessment
Risk-Taking
Severity of Illness Index
Students - psychology
Substance abuse treatment
Therapy, Computer-Assisted - methods
Treatment Outcome
Universities
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract College is a time of increased risk for problematic alcohol use and depressed mood. The comorbidity of these conditions is well documented, but is less well understood, with few interventions designed to prevent or reduce the related consequences. The current study evaluated a web-based personalized intervention for students (N = 311) who reported an AUDIT score of 8 or more, a BDI-II score of 14 or more, and reported drinking four (women) or five (men) or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past month. Method: Invited participants were randomly selected from all enrolled undergraduates at a large, public, Pacific Northwestern University. Participants completed a screening and baseline assessment, and those who met study eligibility criteria were randomized to one of four conditions (alcohol only, depressed mood only, integrated, and referral-only control). Follow-up occurred one-month post-intervention. Results: While no main effects for the interventions were found, there were moderation effects, such that students in the alcohol only and integrated conditions who had lower levels of depressed mood or alcohol-related problems at baseline showed greater reductions in alcohol-related problems at follow-up compared to students in the control condition. Implications for interventions are discussed.
ISSN:0306-4603
1873-6327
DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.10.030