Grouping motivational interviewing for alcohol craving in individuals with alcohol use disorder: the influence of drinking history on its efficacy

Background Motivational interviewing (MI) is a psychological intervention for patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study examined the role of the history of drinking alcohol in the efficacy of group MI (GMI) on alcohol craving in AUD. The sample (N = 108) consisted of patients with AUD. Methods A total of 108 patients with AUD received a 6-week GMI or treat-as-usual (TAU) intervention and were interviewed at baseline, weeks 2, 4, and 6. The severity of alcohol craving was evaluated by the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS), and the depressive symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD). Repeated measures ANOVA showed improved alcohol craving and depressive symptoms in the GMI group compared with the TAU group. Results According to the history of AUD, all patients were divided into two groups: the short-term group (< 20) (n = 38) or the long-term group ( > = 20) (n = 70). The GMI interventions showed a positive effect on alcohol craving (p = 0.01) and depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) only in patients with a long history of AUD rather than in those with a short AUD history (all p > 0.05). There were no significant associations of the improvements in alcohol craving with depressive symptoms following a 6-week GMI intervention in the long-term AUD history group. Discussion This result suggests that GMI showed greater positive effects on alcohol craving and symptoms of depression in patients with long-term AUD compared with those with a short history of this disorder. Further interventions should emphasize the importance of considering patients' drinking history in alcohol dependence treatment to foster the intervention efficacy of GMI.