Efficacy of group motivational interviewing (GMI) for psychiatric inpatients with chemical dependence

Poor compliance with aftercare treatment among dually diagnosed patients is a costly and pervasive health problem that limits the effectiveness of inpatient detoxification. Current strategies for improving compliance with aftercare treatment are minimally effective. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of adding motivational interviewing in a group format (GMI) to the standard treatment program of an inpatient psychiatric hospital for individuals with coexisting psychiatric and substance use disorders. The project aimed to significantly improve compliance with aftercare treatment (e.g. outpatient, AA/NA, and residential treatment) and reduce substance use over standard treatment alone. Participants (n = 101) were block randomized to GMI (n = 50), consisting of two sessions, or standard treatment (ST, n = 51), including a two-session therapist attention activity. All participants and collaterals were contacted at 1 and 3-month follow-up periods to evaluate outcomes. Relative to participants who received ST, participants who received GMI attended significantly more aftercare treatment sessions, consumed less alcohol, and drank fewer drinks per drinking day by the 3-month follow-up. While significantly fewer participants in GMI binge drank and spent money on illicit drugs at 3-month follow-up, the effect on binge drinking and the use of illicit drugs did not last beyond the 1-month follow-up. While participants in GMI attended significantly more outpatient treatment sessions than participant in ST as early as the 1-month follow-up, differences on overall aftercare attendance including AA/NA participation were not evident until 3-month follow-up. Although the GMI treatment effect on drug use was only evident at 1-month follow-up, the effect on alcohol consumption was robust throughout the entire follow-up phase. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)