No universally safe level of prenatal alcohol consumption has been identified. The consequences of drinking while pregnant range from subtle developmental problems to fetal alcohol syndrome. Yet, the rate of frequent drinking by pregnant women has increased substantially in recent years. Brief interventions have been generally recommended as the first approach to treatment for mild to moderate alcohol problems, and their effectiveness documented in several well designed studies. Pregnant women at risk for antenatal consumption are an especially appropriate group to receive brief interventions, given the potential consequences of prenatal drinking and the relative infrequency of dependent alcohol use in this population. Our previous efforts to improve the identification and modification of alcohol use in pregnancy have demonstrated higher rates of abstinence among women randomized to a brief intervention. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of an enhanced brief intervention involving an individual chosen by the pregnant woman. This support partner will assist in the maintenance and application of skills learned as a result of the brief intervention. Three hundred pregnant women initiating prenatal care, who are alcohol screen positive and currently drinking, or drank during a previous pregnancy, or drank at least one drink daily before pregnancy will be randomized to either the enhanced brief intervention with assessment or assessment only.
The aim specific to this proposed randomized clinical trial is to test the hypothesis that 70 percent of the women will be abstinent after the enhanced brief intervention in contrast to 50 percent of the women after the assessment only. This proposed study seeks interventions to prevent drinking by pregnant women, and builds upon our previous research by incorporating advances in feminine psychology which recognize the importance of relationships in women's lives.
| Chang, Grace; McNamara, Tay K; Wilkins-Haug, Louise et al. (2007) Estimates of prenatal abstinence from alcohol: a matter of perspective. Addict Behav 32:1593-601 |
| Chang, Grace; McNamara, Tay; Wilkins-Haug, Louise et al. (2007) Stages of change and prenatal alcohol use. J Subst Abuse Treat 32:105-9 |
| Chang, Grace; McNamara, Tay K; Orav, E John et al. (2006) Alcohol use by pregnant women: partners, knowledge, and other predictors. J Stud Alcohol 67:245-51 |
| McNamara, Tay K; Orav, E John; Wilkins-Haug, Louise et al. (2006) Social support and prenatal alcohol use. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 15:70-6 |
| Chang, Grace; McNamara, Tay; Orav, E John et al. (2006) Identifying risk drinking in expectant fathers. Birth 33:110-6 |
| Chang, Grace; McNamara, Tay K; Orav, E John et al. (2006) Brief intervention for prenatal alcohol use: the role of drinking goal selection. J Subst Abuse Treat 31:419-24 |
| Chang, Grace; McNamara, Tay K; Orav, E John et al. (2005) Brief intervention for prenatal alcohol use: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol 105:991-8 |
| McNamara, Tay K; Orav, E John; Wilkins-Haug, Louise et al. (2005) Risk during pregnancy--self-report versus medical record. Am J Obstet Gynecol 193:1981-5 |
| Dunn, Erin C; Larimer, Mary E; Neighbors, Clayton (2002) Alcohol and drug-related negative consequences in college students with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Int J Eat Disord 32:171-8 |
| Chang, Grace (2002) Brief interventions for problem drinking and women. J Subst Abuse Treat 23:1-7 |
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