NCJ Number
225295
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 47 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 1405-1412
Date Published
December 2008
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Given previous research findings that relapse rates for treated adolescents with alcohol-use disorders (AUDs) amounted to approximately 60 percent at 3 to 6 months after completing treatment, the current randomized controlled study tested the hypothesis that active aftercare for adolescents with AUDs may be more effective in maintaining treatment gains than no active aftercare.
Abstract
The study found that at the end of aftercare, the likelihood of relapse increased significantly compared with gains achieved immediately after treatment completion; however, relapse outcomes were significantly better for youths who received active aftercare (AA) compared with youth who received no aftercare (NA). Girls showed no significant relapse under AA, but relapsed significantly under the NA condition. Youths who received AA also had significantly fewer drinking days and fewer heavy drinking days per month compared to youth under the NA condition. The AA conditions involved either an in-person or brief telephone contact during a 3-month period after completing treatment. This was followed by four manual-guided integration motivational enhancement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy sessions. The same therapists provided treatment and aftercare. A total of 177 adolescents, 13 to 18 years old, who were diagnosed with DSM-IV AUD, participated in 9 weekly outpatient cognitive behavioral therapy group sessions. The 144 treatment completers were randomized into a 5-session, in-person, brief telephone, or NA condition. Three alcohol-use variables were the main outcome measures for the 130 youth who completed aftercare. 3 tables and 44 references