This exploratory/developmental (R21) application is a two-year research project designed to develop and test a brief motivational intervention (BMI) for reducing alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems in a multicultural sample of adolescent girls. Female adolescents' AOD use is a pressing and increasing public health concern. However, few controlled studies have evaluated, specifically with females, the efficacy of behavioral AOD treatments. This lack of relevant efficacy data is a major limitation in evaluating behavioral treatments for girls and women. To address this limitation, this application proposes to conduct an initial evaluation of a BMI designed to reduce adolescent AOD problems, Guided Self Change (GSC), with an adolescent female population. GSC is a treatment with demonstrated effectiveness in reducing AOD problems in male youth. Clinical trial participants in the current study will consist of a diverse sample of at risk female students (ages 14 to 18) attending alternative high schools in Miami. Participants (N= 164) will be randomly assigned to two conditions: (1) GSC or (2) no-treatment control. Treatment will consist of 5 weekly individual sessions. Participants in the GSC condition will be assessed before and after the treatment and at 3- and 6-month follow-up intervals. Control group participants will be assessed at parallel intervals. The results of this exploratory/developmental study will help build a solid evidence base for the efficacy of BMIs in reducing AOD problems among girls, and for GSC as a specific BMI treatment for girls. The proposed study will also permit an exploration of gender-linked factors in treatment-relevant subgroups of girls (e.g., those with a history of maltreatment, partner violence, trauma symptoms, and psychiatric symptoms) for whom brief motivational treatment may be least effective. Key features of the study include a manualized treatment, theory-driven hypotheses, a randomized controlled trial design, and an ethnically/racially diverse sample of girls with AOD problems. The data collected during this study will provide the basis for rigorous evaluation of girls' response to GSC treatment in a future R01 application. Future evaluation efforts may also focus on determining the effectiveness of multiple versions of this GSC treatment, tailored to the needs of specific subgroups of girls.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AA014914-02
Application #
7140424
Study Section
Health Services Research Review Subcommittee (AA)
Program Officer
Lowman, Cherry
Project Start
2005-09-05
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2006-09-01
Budget End
2008-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$171,499
Indirect Cost
Name
Florida International University
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
071298814
City
Miami
State
FL
Country
United States
Zip Code
33199