Significance of a behavioral economic index of reward value in predicting drinking problem resolution.

This study investigated whether a behavioral economic index of the value of rewards available over different time horizons improved prediction of drinking outcomes beyond established biopsychosocial predictors. Preferences for immediate drinking versus more delayed rewards made possible by saving money were determined from expenditures prior to resolution attempts by problem drinkers with different help-seeking experiences (N = 144). As hypothesized, stable resolutions over a 2-year follow-up were associated with proportionally more preresolution discretionary expenditures on savings and less on alcohol compared with unstable resolutions.

A factor analytic study of influences on patterns of help-seeking among treated and untreated alcohol dependent persons.

Influences on seeking help from professional alcohol treatment and from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) were investigated using problem drinkers (N = 167) with different help-seeking experiences (no assistance, AA only, or treatment plus AA) and current drinking statuses (sustained abstinence for > 2 years or active problem drinking). Depending on their help-seeking experiences, participants rated barriers to or reasons for seeking help from treatment and AA, which were factor analyzed. Common impediments to help-seeking included privacy concerns and participants' beliefs that they could solve their problem on their own and that it was not serious enough to seek help.

Different variables are associated with help-seeking patterns and long-term outcomes among problem drinkers.

This study investigated variables associated with help-seeking for drinking problems and with long-term drinking outcomes. In a 3 x 2 design, problem drinkers (N=167) were selected according to their help-seeking history [no assistance (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) only, or treatment plus AA (TxAA)] and current drinking status [resolved abstinent (RA) for >2 years or non-resolved (NR) active drinkers]. Drinking practices and problems, influences on help-seeking, and life events were assessed retrospectively during structured interviews.

Predicting natural resolution of alcohol-related problems: a prospective behavioral economic analysis.

This study investigated whether the relative allocation of discretionary monetary expenditures to alcoholic beverages versus savings (presumed to reflect relative preferences for immediate vs. delayed rewards) before quitting abusive drinking predicted natural resolution among untreated problem drinkers. Drinking, life events, income, and expenditures were assessed for the year before resolution and again 1 and 2 years later (N = 50).

Environmental contexts surrounding resolution of drinking problems among problem drinkers with different help-seeking experiences.

Objective: This study investigated whether similar environmental contexts surround abstinent resolutions associated with different intervention experiences, including no assistance.

Method: Participants were selected in a 3 x 2 design (25-30 per group, N = 167) according to their help-seeking experiences (no assistance, Alcoholics Anonymous [AA] only, treatment plus AA) and current drinking status (resolved abstinent [RA] for >2 years or nonresolved [NR] controls). Life events were assessed retrospectively over a 4-year period that spanned the 2 years before and 2 years after the initiation of stable abstinence by RA participants or over a matched interval for NR participants.