BMJ  2005;331:541 (10 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7516.541

Paper

Effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems: findings of the randomised UK alcohol treatment trial (UKATT)

UKATT Research Team

Correspondence to: Jim Orford, professor of clinical and community psychology, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT j.f.orford{at}bham.ac.uk

Objective To compare the effectiveness of social behaviour and network therapy, a new treatment for alcohol problems, with that of the proved motivational enhancement therapy.

Design Pragmatic randomised trial.

Setting Seven treatment sites around Birmingham, Cardiff, and Leeds.

Participants 742 clients with alcohol problems; 689 (93.0%) were interviewed at three months and 617 (83.2%) at 12 months.

Interventions Social behaviour and network therapy and motivational enhancement therapy.

Main outcome measures Changes in alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence, and alcohol related problems over 12 months.

Results Both groups reported substantial reductions in alcohol consumption, dependence, and problems, and better mental health related quality of life over 12 months. Between groups we found only one significant difference in outcome, probably due to chance: the social network group showed significantly better physical health at three months. Non-significant differences at 12 months in the motivational group relative to the social network group included: the number of drinks consumed per drinking day had decreased by an extra 1.1 (95% confidence interval -1.0 to 3.2); scores on the Leeds dependence questionnaire had improved by an extra 0.6 (-0.7 to 2.0); scores on the alcohol problems questionnaire had improved by an extra 0.5 (-0.4 to 1.4); but the number of days abstinent from drinking had increased by 1.2% less (-4.5% to 6.9%).

Conclusion The novel social behaviour and network therapy for alcohol problems did not differ significantly in effectiveness from the proved motivational enhancement therapy.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Treatment options for alcoholism haven't advanced
BMJ 2005 331: 0. [Full Text] [PDF]

British drinking: a suitable case for treatment?
Wayne Hall
BMJ 2005 331: 527-528. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Cost effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems: findings of the randomised UK alcohol treatment trial (UKATT)
UKATT Research Team
BMJ 2005 331: 544. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Rao, H., Luty, J. (2009). The future of specialised alcohol treatment services: a matter of policy?. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 15: 253-259 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Luty, J., Umoh, O., Nuamah, F. (2009). Effect of brief motivational interviewing on stigmatised attitudes towards mental illness. Psychiatr. Bull. 33: 212-214 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Orford, J., Hodgson, R., Copello, A., Krishnan, M., de Madariaga, M., Coulton, S., on behalf of the UKATT Research Team, (2009). What Was Useful about That Session? Clients' and Therapists' Comments after Sessions in the UK Alcohol Treatment Trial (UKATT). Alcohol Alcohol 44: 306-313 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Linke, S., McCambridge, J., Khadjesari, Z., Wallace, P., Murray, E. (2008). Development of a Psychologically Enhanced Interactive Online Intervention for Hazardous Drinking. Alcohol Alcohol 43: 669-674 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Tober, G., Clyne, W., Finnegan, O., Farrin, A., Team, I. R., in collaboration with the UKATT Research Team, (2008). Validation of a Scale for Rating the Delivery of Psycho-Social Treatments for Alcohol Dependence and Misuse: The UKATT Process Rating Scale (PRS). Alcohol Alcohol 43: 675-682 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Luty, J., Carnwath, T. (2008). Specialised alcohol treatment services are a luxury the NHS cannot afford. Br. J. Psychiatry 192: 245-247 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • (2008). Treating depression in alcohol misuse. DTB 46: 11-14 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Grinshpoon, A., Margolis, A., Weizman, A., Ponizovsky, A. M. (2007). Sildenafil citrate in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and its effect on quality of life in alcohol dependent men: preliminary findings. Alcohol Alcohol 42: 340-346 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Luty, J. (2006). What works in alcohol use disorders?. Adv. Psychiatr. Treat. 12: 13-22 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • Hall, W. (2005). British drinking: a suitable case for treatment?. BMJ 331: 527-528 [Full text]  
  • UKATT Research Team, (2005). Cost effectiveness of treatment for alcohol problems: findings of the randomised UK alcohol treatment trial (UKATT). BMJ 331: 544- [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Older people remain invisible in alcohol treatment studies
Rahul Rao
bmj.com, 9 Sep 2005 [Full text]
Alcohol misuse treatment.
Peter O'Loughlin, et al.
bmj.com, 10 Sep 2005 [Full text]
Heterogeneous subject group: can we categorise them?
Yatan PS Balhara
bmj.com, 13 Sep 2005 [Full text]
Effectiveness of treatment
Robert B. Cutler
bmj.com, 27 Sep 2005 [Full text]
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ