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To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

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Saturday, July 7, 2007

Brief family treatment intervention to promote continuing care among alcohol-dependent patients in inpatient detoxification: A randomized pilot study
Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
Article in Press, Corrected Proof 5 July 2007


Alcohol-dependent patients in inpatient detoxification were randomized to treatment-as-usual (TAU) intervention or brief family treatment (BFT) intervention to promote continuing care postdetoxification.

Results showed that BFT patients (n = 24) were significantly more likely than TAU patients (n = 21) to enter a continuing care program after detoxification. This was a medium to large effect size.

In the 3 months after detoxification, days using alcohol or drugs (a) trended lower for treatment-exposed BFT patients who had an in-person family meeting than for TAU counterparts (medium effect), and (b) were significantly lower for patients who entered continuing care regardless of treatment condition (large effect).

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Reprint Request E-Mail: timothy_ofarrell@hms.harvard.edu

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