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Brief Interventions for Patients Presenting to the Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES) with Major Mental Illnesses and At-risk Drinking

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Abstract

The presentation for care in psychiatric emergency setting provides an opportunity to assist individuals with mental health disorders and problems related to alcohol use. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether clinician-administered brief alcohol interventions are effective in reducing alcohol consumption in patients who screen positive for at-risk drinking in the psychiatric emergency setting. A total of 390 PES patients were screened; 87 (schizophrenia/bipolar disorder, n = 34; depression/anxiety, n = 53) met criteria for the study and received a brief alcohol intervention. Both groups dropped their drinking by ~7 drinks/week over the 6-months of the study (P < .05). The results of this study suggest that individuals with mental illnesses who drink at risk levels may benefit from a short, targeted brief alcohol intervention directed at changing their alcohol-related behavior and that, delivery of these interventions is feasible in a psychiatric emergency setting.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation in Detroit, MI, for generous support of this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Karen K. Milner

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Department of Veterans Affairs National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (SMITREC), University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Kristen L. Barry & Frederic C. Blow

  3. Department of Veterans Affairs National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center (SMITREC), University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Deborah Welsh

Authors
  1. Karen K. Milner
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  2. Kristen L. Barry
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  3. Frederic C. Blow
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  4. Deborah Welsh
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Correspondence to Karen K. Milner.

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Milner, K.K., Barry, K.L., Blow, F.C. et al. Brief Interventions for Patients Presenting to the Psychiatric Emergency Service (PES) with Major Mental Illnesses and At-risk Drinking. Community Ment Health J 46, 149–155 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-009-9182-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-009-9182-y

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