Personality-targeted Interventions for Adolescent Alcohol Misuse (Preventure)

A New School-based Drug Prevention Programme for Teenagers: Interventions That Target Personality Risk for Substance Abuse and Mental Illness

Personality targeted cognitive behavioural interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol and drug misuse in adult substance abusers (Conrod et al., 2000) and adolescent drinkers (Conrod et al, in press). As these interventions target personality traits linked to risk for addictive and non-addictive mental disorders, the aim of this study is to examine the extent to which this approach can prevent and/or reduce alcohol and drug misuse as well as have an impact on the onset or severity of emotional and behavioural problems in young people.

Personality targeted cognitive behavioural interventions have been shown to be effective in reducing alcohol and drug misuse in adult substance abusers (Conrod et al., 2000) and adolescent drinkers (Conrod et al, in press). As these interventions target personality traits linked to risk for addictive and non-addictive psychopathology, the aim of this study is to examine the extent to which this approach is effective in preventing and/or reduce alcohol and drug misuse and concurrent psychiatric symptoms in young people. Method: 875 Participants aged 13-16 years will be screened for personality risk in school-wide self-report assessments. Participants will be randomly assigned to a personality matched cognitive-behavioural intervention or a no-intervention control. The personality matched interventions will target four personality risk factors: negative thinking (NT), anxiety sensitivity (AS), impulsivity (IMP) and sensation seeking (SS). Outcome evaluation will occur 6, 12, 18 and 24 months post intervention. Primary outcomes will be time to onset and severity of alcohol and illicit substance use and misuse. Secondary outcome variables will include depressive symptoms, panic attack rates, reckless and antisocial behaviour. Secondary analyses involving genetic, cognitive and coping skills measures will examine moderators of treatment effects. Hypotheses: It is expected that personality-targeted interventions will have personality-specific effects on aspects of addictive and non-addictive psychopathology to which each personality risk group is most susceptible.

Prevention, Addiction, Personality, Adolescents, Binge Drinking, Alcohol Abuse, Comorbidity, Depression, Anxiety, Antisocial Behaviour

cognitive behavioural intervention teaching high impulsive youth how to manage their impulsive thinking and behaviours

cognitive-behavioural intervention teaching high sensation seeking youth how to manage their need for stimulation and excitement

Motivational and Cognitive-Behavioural interventions targeting four personality risk factors for substance misuse. Two, 90-minute group sessions conducted at school with personality-matched peers and trained psychologists/councellors and co-facilitators.

Psychiatric symptoms (depression, panic anxiety, antisocial behaviours), coping skills, motives for drinking

Assessed using the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Reckless Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Drinking Motives Questionnaire.

Inclusion Criteria: secondary school student scoring one standard deviation above the school mean on one of 4 personality dimensions. Able to provide consent from parent/guardian for participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: None

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