Brief Intervention for ICU Patients With Alcohol Use Disorders (ICU-BI)

Patients non-electively admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) will be screened for eligibility. The investigators will include adult patients with risk level alcohol use, defined by AUDIT-C score (>5 for females, >6 for males). Informed consent will be obtained from the patient in the end or shortly after the ICU treatment, when they have regained sufficient cognitive function. 600 patients will be randomized to receive either routine treatment or a brief intervention (BI). The BI includes a 20 minute discussion with pre-educated study personnel, option to discussion with a social worker and written material. Primary outcome measure is the amount of alcohol used during the preceding week (g/week), at 6 and 12 months after study entry. The information will be obtained 1)in an interview by a study team member blinded for the intervention arm at 6 months 2) A letter of a telephone interview at 12 months. AUDIT score, EQ-5D and mortality will also be recorded. An interim analysis by an external reviewer will be performed after the primary outcome has been recorded for 200 patients,

Unlike other team members, the investigator interviewing the patients will be unaware of the treatment group. The patient will be encouraged not to reveal the treatment group to the investigator.

Patients receive a brief intervention, including a short discussion, opportunity for an appointment with a social worker and written information about effects of alcohol on health and contact information for seeking additional support

A 15-20minute discussion about the patients alcohol use and its association with current health conditions, option for a discussion with social worker and written material (information about how alcohol affects health and contact details for seeking more support)

The patients are interviewed and the amount of alcohol consumed during the last week is recorded and converted in grams

The patients are interviewed and the amount of alcohol consumed during the last week is recorded and converted in grams

The AUDIT score will be filled in an interview and compared with the initial score obtained on study admission

The AUDIT score will be filled in a telephone interview or by mailed questionnaire and compared with the initial score obtained on study admission

A structured questionnaire EQ-5D will be mailed or filled in a telephone interview and the EQ-5D will be compared between the groups

Inclusion Criteria: AUDIT-C score >5 (women) and >6 (men) Non-elective admission to the ICU Exclusion Criteria: Terminal illness (expected to survive less than 6 months), palliative care Diagnosed severe mental illness (psychos, severe depression, bipolar disorder, personality disorder) Cognitive disability Diagnosed dementia Impaired level of consciousness at discharge from the ICU (expected to remain unchanged >2 days Other substance abuse (excluding cigarette smoking) Ongoing treatment for alcohol dependency Insufficient language skills (finnish/swedish) Expected difficulty in getting contacted by mail or telephone (no permanent address or telephone in use)