Biomedical subjects

Arthur W Blume

Publications and source records attributed to Arthur W Blume.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Recent drinking consequences, motivation to change, and changes in alcohol consumption over a three month period.

Little is known about what type of drinking related consequences may enhance motivation to change or may hinder behavior change over time. In order to examine this research question, 120 adult participants abusing alcohol were administered the Drinker Inventory of Consequences-Recent (DrInC-R), the Brief Readiness to Change Questionnaire (BRTC), and the Steady Pattern Chart (SP). Subscale scores from the DrInC-R and the BRTC; and alcohol consumption as assessed by the SP at baseline and three month follow-up were retained for data analyses. Greater intrapersonal DrInC-R consequences scores significantly predicted greater contemplation stage scores (R2=.37, p<.001), and lower precontemplation stage scores (R2=.32, p<.001), and DrInC-R impulse control and interpersonal consequences scores significantly predicted alcohol consumption at three month follow-up after controlling for baseline consumption (R2=.50, p<.001). Increased awareness of intrapersonal drinking related consequences may motivate change, whereas numbers of impulse control and interpersonal consequences may predict changes in drinking behavior over the short-term.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Memory, executive cognitive function, and readiness to change drinking behavior.

The transtheoretical model of Prochaska and DiClemente [Psychother. Theory Res. Prac. 19 (1982) 276] postulates that cognitive skills are critical for drinking behavior change. Memory and executive cognitive function likely influence the execution of skills that are implicated for both motivating and sustaining drinking behavior change. Participants who met criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence (N=117) were administered a battery of standardized memory and executive cognitive function tests that included the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT), and Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST). Lower verbal and higher delayed recall memory score at baseline significantly predicted precontemplation, higher verbal memory scores predicted contemplation, and better attention-concentration at baseline significantly predicted reduced drinking at 3-month follow-up, after controlling for baseline alcohol consumption. The study findings indicate that explicit memory processes may have utility for predicting readiness to change drinking behavior.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Predictors of change in binge drinking over a 3-month period.

Self-efficacy and positive and negative alcohol expectancies have been associated with drinking reduction for some groups, but the relationship of these constructs with changes in high-risk binge drinking behavior among young adults over time is poorly understood. Seventy-six young adults between the ages of 18-32 were recruited to examine this question. Lower self-efficacy and greater positive alcohol expectancies predicted greater numbers of follow-up binge drinking episodes, and greater positive alcohol expectancies predicted greater follow-up alcohol consumption. Young adults with lower self-efficacy, and greater numbers of positive alcohol expectancies may be at risk for experiencing a worsening binge pattern over time.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Journeys of the Circle: a culturally congruent life skills intervention for adolescent Indian drinking.

There has been an increasing call for and development of culturally appropriate substance prevention/intervention for ethnic minorities in schools and communities, especially among reservation and in urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) communities. Past attempts to intervene in and reduce misuse of alcohol and other drugs have not had great success. The Journeys of the Circle Project utilized innovative programs with a strong emphasis on historic cultural traditions.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2003

Validity of the CRAFFT in American-Indian and Alaska-Native adolescents: screening for drug and alcohol risk.

OBJECTIVE: Native-American adolescents are reported to be at high risk for drug and alcohol use and related negative consequences. A brief screening instrument that is culturally and developmentally appropriate can aid clinicians who work with Native youth in determining whether more extensive assessment of substance use is necessary. The CRAFFT has been shown to be a valid and reliable screen among general adolescent outpatient clinic samples. METHOD: Data were collected as part of the Journeys of the Circle project, a collaborative effort between the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) and the University of Washington's Addictive Behaviors Research Center. Psychometric properties of the CRAFFT were examined in 70 American-Indian and Alaska-Native youths ages 13 to 19 recruited from public schools and SIHBs outpatient clinics. RESULTS: The CRAFFT demonstrated good internal consistency (alpha = 0.81). A score of 2 or higher on the CRAFFT was found to be optimal for capturing youths with high alcohol-related problems (sensitivity, 0.95; specificity, 0.86), frequent alcohol use (sensitivity, 1.00; specificity, 0.72) and frequent marijuana use (sensitivity, 1.00; specificity, 0.75). A cut-point of 3 was appropriate for identifying adolescents with frequent other drug use (sensitivity, 0.86; specificity, 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: The CRAFFT may be a valid instrument for identifying Native youths at risk for alcohol and other drug problems. This brief screen can be effective in helping providers determine the need for further assessment and treatment or prevention services for Native-American adolescents.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Beliefs about drinking behavior predict drinking consequences.

Cognitions about drinking, such as positive expectancies and self-efficacy, have been found to profoundly influence drinking behavior. Although the relationship of self-efficacy and positive expectancies with drinking consumption has been established, the relationship of self-efficacy and alcohol expectancies with the number of reported drinking related consequences has not been examined. One hundred thirteen participants who met criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence were administered the Situational Confidence Questionnaire, the Alcohol Expectancies Questionnaire, the Drinker Inventory of Consequences-Recent, and the Losses of Significance Self-report Questionnaire-Revised. As predicted, lower self-efficacy and greater positive alcohol expectancies predicted greater recent drinking consequences beyond those accounted for by alcohol consumption alone. Greater numbers of positive alcohol expectancies also predicted greater numbers of recent important alcohol related losses. Correcting errant assumptions about alcohol expectancies and strategies designed to increase self-efficacy may reduce harmful drinking consequences even if a client is unwilling to reduce consumption.

Alcohol Drinking↗