Using technical innovations in clinical practice: The drinker's check-up software program

TitleUsing technical innovations in clinical practice: The drinker's check-up software program
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2004
AuthorsSquires, DD, Hester, RK
JournalJournal of Clinical Psychology
Volume60
Pagination159-169
Date PublishedFeb
Publication Languageeng
ISBN Number0021-9762 (Print)0021-9762 (Linking)
Accession Number14724923
Keywords*Self Assessment (Psychology), *Software, Adult, Aged, Alcoholism/*psychology/*therapy, Decision Making, Diffusion of Innovation, Feedback, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Motivation, New Mexico, Outcome and Process Assessment (Health Care), Psychotherapy, Brief/instrumentation/*methods, Self Efficacy, User-Computer Interface
Abstract

Interest in assessing and treating a variety of psychological conditions with software programs is increasing rapidly. This article reviews a software program for problem drinkers entitled the Drinker's Check-Up (DCU) and illustrates its use with three patients. The DCU is based on the principles of brief motivational interventions and can be used as a stand-alone intervention by therapists without expertise in substance abuse or as a prelude to alcohol treatment services. It is the first software program to provide integrated assessment, feedback, and assistance with decision making for individuals experiencing problems with alcohol. Preliminary data from an ongoing clinical trial of the DCU as a stand-alone intervention indicate that it is an effective intervention for a wide range of problem drinkers.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=14724923
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