Suchttherapie 2011; 12 - S8_2
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1284519

Internet Therapy versus Internet Self-help versus No Treatment for Problematic Alcohol Use: a Randomized Controlled Trial

M Blankers 1, GM Schippers 1
  • 1AIAR / AMC-UvA; Arkin, The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Niederlande

Aims: Problematic alcohol use is the number three leading contributor to global burden of disease, partly because the majority of problem drinkers is not receiving treatment. Internet-based alcohol interventions attract an otherwise untreated population, but its effectiveness has to be established yet.

Objective: The current study examined the effectiveness of internet-based therapy (Internet Therapy, IT) and internet-based self-help (Internet Self-help, IS) for problematic alcohol users.

Method: Adult problem drinkers (N=205; 51% female; mean age=42 years old; mean Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score=20) were randomly assigned to either IT, IS, or an untreated waiting list (WL). Participants in the IT condition received 7 individual text-chat counseling sessions. Both IT and IS interventions were based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing (MI) techniques. Assessments were planned at baseline, three months and six months after randomization. Primary outcome variables were 7-day timeline-follow-back alcohol consumption (TLFB) and Treatment Response. Secondary outcome variables included measures on quality of life (i.e. EQ–5D).

Results: Using generalized estimating equations regression models, intention-to-treat analyses demonstrated significant effects of IT versus WL and IS versus WL on TLFB drinking counts at three months. Differences between IT and IS were not significant three months after baseline, but were after six months, with larger effects for IT. Similar patterns of results emerged for Treatment Response and quality of life outcome analyses.

Conclusions: Results support the effectiveness of CBT/MI based internet therapy and internet self-help for problematic alcohol users. After six months, the internet therapy program led to more positive results than the internet self-help program.

alcohol - internet - randomized clinical trial - self-help - therapy - treatment