Short drinking programmes beat other groups for a year, but not longer treatment

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   The review pooled 56 studies of people with drinking problems. Most were found in routine health care and not looking for treatment, and the rest were seeking or referred to treatment.

2. 02

   What they did

   Programmes had up to four sessions, mostly advice, often with feedback, and some were just self-help booklets. The other group got no programme, or a longer one.

3. 03

   What happened

   Up to a year, people who had a short programme drank less than the other group. At 3 to 6 months the gain was bigger where people with severe problems were left out. Against longer treatment, short programmes did no better at most times, but longer treatment did better at 3 to 6 months.

What the review found

1. Helped

   At 3 months or less, short programmes cut drinking more than the other group did.

   Pooled analysis of 3 studies · vs people who got no programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. Helped

   At 3 to 6 months, short programmes cut drinking more than the other group did.

   Pooled analysis of 11 studies · vs people who got no programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. Helped

   At 6 to 12 months, short programmes cut drinking more than the other group did.

   Pooled analysis of 20 studies · vs people who got no programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. No difference

   After a year, short programmes did not cut drinking more than the other group did.

   Pooled analysis of 2 studies · vs people who got no programme · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source