Effects of Motivational Interviewing in Prison

Karolinska Institute

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Alcohol Abuse

Treatments: Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing; MI

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01184612

30225613

Details and patient eligibility

About

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a communication style demonstrated to decrease drug and alcohol use. A five session MI intervention (BSF) was implemented in the Swedish correctional system. The intervention was delivered by counsellors with workshop only MI training (BSF) or by counsellors with workshop MI training followed by peer group supervision based on audio taped feedback (BSF+).

Aim was to examine whether BSF in prisons reduces drug and alcohol use more effectively than interviews conducted according to the usual planning interview routine (UPI).

Enrollment: 296 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 20 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Born between 01-01-1954 and 31-12-1984;
• Conditional release no later than 30-06-2005 (this was extended to 19-09-2005 and again to 31-03-2006);
• Swedish or Norwegian speaker;
• Not having previously received BSF in remand or any other prison;
• Heavy use of alcohol or drugs, measured by the standard prison and probation system: 1= occasional use; 2= heavy use;
• ASI interview at intake;
• No order for deportation after release from prison

Exclusion criteria

Trial design

296 participants in 3 patient groups

(BSF) MI sessions

Active Comparator group

Description:

5 semi-structured manualised MI sessions was conducted by existing prison staff having undergone 3 days of Motivational Interviewing workshop training and 2 days of training with the BSF manual.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing; MI

(BSF+) MI sessions with supervision

Active Comparator group

Description:

5 semi-structured manualised MI sessions was conducted by ordinary prison staff having undergone 3 days of Motivational Interviewing workshop training and 2 days of training with the BSF manual, followed by ongoing Motivational Interviewing training with feedback based on audio taped sessions in peer supervision groups.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing; MI

(UPI) Usual Planning Interview

Active Comparator group

Description:

5 sessions was conducted by prison staff according to usual working practices, with the exception that content was structured into 5 sessions and audio recorded. The provision of a government decree served as a basis for the intervention, covering planning of prison activities and post release arrangements including strategies for drug use cessation.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Motivational Interviewing; MI