The broad, long-term objectives of this study are to improve the identification and treatment of alcohol abusing pregnant women. Because the social costs of alcohol abuse during pregnancy are potentially very high, and physician detection rates of alcohol abuse by obstetrics patients have been reported to be less than 25%, development of an accurate screen for problematic pregnant drinkers will enhance their identification and lead to further assessment and treatment if indicated. All pregnant women who present to either the Harvard Faculty .or Resident practices at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA will be screened with the T-ACE, a variant of the CAGE, embedded in a General Health and Habits Survey. Women with positive screens will be randomized to either Assessment and Referral Only or Assessment and Referral with a Brief Intervention.
Aims specific to this proposal are to: 1. test the sensitivity and specificity of the T-ACE, reported to detect 7 in 10 inner city, African-American women drinking enough to constitute an embryonic/fetal risk, in a more heterogenous population. The relative utility of the T-ACE will be compared to other measures for identifying problematic alcohol use. The other measures will include the AUDIT, SMAST, the alcohol and drug use modules from the SCID, and collateral reports. 2. compare subsequent drinking and alcohol treatment seeking behavior in women identified to have problematic alcohol use after randomization to Assessment and Referral only or Assessment and Referral with Brief Intervention.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA009670-02
Application #
2045931
Study Section
Clinical and Treatment Subcommittee (ALCP)
Project Start
1993-08-01
Project End
1997-07-31
Budget Start
1994-08-01
Budget End
1995-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
071723621
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
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Chang, G; Goetz, M A; Wilkins-Haug, L et al. (1999) Prenatal alcohol consumption. Self versus collateral report. J Subst Abuse Treat 17:85-9
Chang, G; Wilkins-Haug, L; Berman, S et al. (1999) Brief intervention for alcohol use in pregnancy: a randomized trial. Addiction 94:1499-508
Chang, G; Wilkins-Haug, L; Berman, S et al. (1999) The TWEAK: application in a prenatal setting. J Stud Alcohol 60:306-9
Chang, G; Goetz, M A; Wilkins-Haug, L et al. (1999) Identifying prenatal alcohol use: screening instruments versus clinical predictors. Am J Addict 8:87-93
Chang, G; Wilkins-Haug, L; Berman, S et al. (1998) Alcohol use and pregnancy: improving identification. Obstet Gynecol 91:892-8
Chang, G; Wilkins-Haug, L; Berman, S et al. (1998) Pregnant women with negative alcohol screens do drink less. A prospective study. Am J Addict 7:299-304
Chang, G; Behr, H; Goetz, M A et al. (1997) Women and alcohol abuse in primary care. Identification and intervention. Am J Addict 6:183-92