Can a pure motivational interviewing intervention be manualized and still efficacious? A test of feasibility and initial efficacy.

This study evaluated the feasibility and initial efficacy of a pure MI intervention manual – MI for risky social drinking (MI-RSD) – designed to target risky social drinking behaviors in college students with social anxiety. A pilot sample of 42 college students completed measures of alcohol use and mental health symptoms and the MI-RSD intervention. We developed a manual for the 2-session MI-RSD intervention, trained 4 clinical doctoral students, and used observer-, therapist- and participant-completed measures to evaluate fidelity. Therapists met beginner proficiency in MI fidelity and participant gave high ratings of therapist adherence to MI and working alliance, demonstrating intervention feasibility. Also, participants reported significant reductions in hazardous drinking and evaluation fears, but not in social interaction anxiety. We offer preliminary evidence that pure MI can be manualized and effective. Specifically, MI-RSD represents an alternative to MI adaptations in mitigating alcohol-related harm for young adults. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Source: Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research