Citation

Ellis JD, Grekin ER, Beatty JR, McGoron L, LaLiberte BV, Pop DE, Kostecki AP, Ondersma SJ. Contemp. Clin. Trials 2017; 61: 29-32.

Affiliation

Merrill-Palmer Skillman Institute, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.cct.2017.07.014

PMID

28732758

Abstract

Computer-delivered, brief interventions (CDBIs) have been an increasingly popular way to treat alcohol use disorders; however, very few studies have examined which characteristics of CDBIs maximize intervention effectiveness. The literature has consistently demonstrated that therapist empathy is associated with reduced substance use in in-person therapy; however, it is unclear whether this principle applies to CDBIs. Therefore, the study aimed to examine whether the presence of an empathic narrator increased intentions to reduce heavy drinking in a CDBI.

RESULTS suggest that the presence of empathy increases motivation to reduce drinking, and makes participants feel more supported and less criticized.

Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol use; Brief interventions; Computerized interventions; Empathy; Personality