University of Twente Student Theses
Alcohol Cognitive Bias Modification training for problem drinkers via their smartphone: a pilot study
Somsen, B.N. (2017) Alcohol Cognitive Bias Modification training for problem drinkers via their smartphone: a pilot study.
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Abstract: | Background: Previous research showed positive outcomes of a Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM) Alcohol Avoidance Training, using an adapted Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT) to change the automatic approach bias for alcohol of problem drinkers in a clinical and community sample. The CBM Alcohol Avoidance Training of alcohol was initially only offered by computer. Current pilot study examined a novel mobile version of the training in a self-selected non-clinical sample. Objective: The main aim of the study was to test whether the mobile version provides a reduction of alcohol consumption in problem drinkers by providing the CBM Alcohol Avoidance Training. Methods: Participants experiencing an alcohol problem, or being concerned about their drinking, were recruited through free publicity, which resulted in 1214 interested participants. The participants were instructed to complete two training sessions per week during the three weeks of the pilot study. Of these 1214 interested participants, 1082 participants could be included. The excluded participants did not have an alcohol-related reason to participate. After completing the three weeks training participants received the online posttest. A total of 410 were included for analysis. The primary outcome measure was a reduction in alcohol consumption and the secondary outcome measure was adherence. Results: Findings show that a large part of the participants were problem drinkers (93.5%). The training completers reduced their drinking in mean weekly alcohol consumption with approximately eight standard units. The outcome indicated a positive correlation between adherence and reduction in weekly alcohol consumption. 78.8% of the participants completed the training sessions. Conclusions: This pilot study reached the target group as intended, where mainly self-selected problem drinkers in a non-clinical setting participated. The results of this pilot study suggest that the mobile version of the CBM Alcohol Avoidance Training has the potential to reduce the alcohol consumption of problem drinkers in a non-clinical setting, corroborated by the indication for a dose-response relationship. Since a control group was not included in this study, the results cannot be ascertained with absolute certainty. Further research therefore is recommended. |
Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
Clients: | Vrouw |
Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
Subject: | 77 psychology |
Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/72089 |
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