Component Analysis for Motivational Interviewing

Project Motion is a clinical research study for people seeking to reduce, but not stop their drinking. Individuals who qualify will receive a comprehensive assessment and brief individual psychotherapy at no cost. The study is being conducted by a team of scientists at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our offices are located next to Columbus Circle and we offer convenient hours for appointments.

The purpose of our study is to understand how brief psychotherapy helps people reduce alcohol consumption and drinking problems. For example, we know that some people can reduce drinking with little or no treatment, whereas others benefit from one-on-one psychotherapy. However, we do not know why this happens. Individuals who qualify and decide to participate will be assigned by chance to one of three conditions. Individuals assigned to the first two conditions will receive brief psychotherapy, beginning the first week of their participation in the study. Individuals in the third condition will receive feedback on their drinking and be asked to reduce their drinking with the aid of telephone self-monitoring for a period of 8 weeks. Individuals in the third condition will then receive psychotherapy as well. The delay of 8 weeks will allow us to understand how the psychotherapy works compared to how people change without counseling.

Inclusion criteria

• Primary current diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder
• Meets DSM-IV criteria for inability to control or cut down on drinking
• Have an average weekly consumption of >24 standard drinks for men and >15 standard drinks for women
• Show no evidence of significant cognitive impairment
• Are willing to reduce drinking to non-hazardous levels
• Not seeking to quit drinking
• Agree not to seek additional substance abuse treatment during treatment period
• Fluent in English

Exclusion criteria

• Have a current DSM-IV diagnosis of drug dependence (other than nicotine/marijuana)
• Have a serious psychiatric illness (e.g., psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression) or substantial suicide or violence risk
• Have clinically severe alcoholism as evidenced by a history of significant medical problems associated with drinking, seizures or severe withdrawal symptoms, or an inpatient treatment episode for drinking
• Legally mandated to receive substance abuse treatment
• Sufficiently socially unstable as to preclude completion of study requirements (e.g., homeless)