Addiction Risk: The Influence of Mindset Induction on the Effect of a Brief Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use

Addiction Risk: The Influence of Mindset Induction on the Effect of a Brief Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use

Research Group RISKDYNAMICS, Sub-Project 8, Work Package 1, Study 2: Addiction Risk: The Influence of Mindset Induction on the Effect of a Brief Intervention to Reduce Alcohol Use

Brief Interventions (BI) based on Motivational Interviewing are effective to reduce alcohol use. In this study the investigators test the hypothesis that that an open Mindset increases the positive effects of BI. Patients who are newly admitted to the psychotherapy outpatient clinic are routinely screened for risky alcohol use. All patients with risky alcohol use are eligible to the study and all receive the WHO's ASSIST-linked BI. Participants receive a brief Mindset induction prior to receiving BI. They are are randomly assigned to either the induction of an open or a closed Mindset according to Gollwitzer. The investigators measure the change in alcohol-related risk perception, treatment motivation and real alcohol drinking.

Psychological Intervention. Participants are asked to work on a brief paper-and-pencil task that has been shown to induce a Deliberative Mindset according to the Mindset theory of action phases (Gollwitzer & Keller (2016). Mindset Theory. In: V. Zeigler-Hill, T.K. Shackelford (eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. New York: Springer).

Psychological Intervention. Participants are asked to work on a brief paper-and-pencil task that has been shown to induce an Implemental Mindset according to the Mindset theory of action phases (Gollwitzer & Keller (2016). Mindset Theory. In: V. Zeigler-Hill, T.K. Shackelford (eds.), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. New York: Springer).

This induction of a psychological state was extensively studied in cognitive science. Gollwitzer & Keller (2016, p.3): "The deliberative mindset is evoked by asking participants to (a) name an unresolved, important personal problem that is causing rumination but for which they have not made a decision yet and (b) reflect on whether to take action or not. Further, to enhance the depth of reflection, participants are requested to list positive and negative, short- and long-term consequences of both deciding to act and not to act; indicating the probability of the occurrence of each of these consequences is required. The implemental mindset is evoked by asking participants to think of a personal project for which they have already made the decision to act but did not initiate any action yet. Subsequently, participants are asked to list the steps necessary for successful goal attainment and to plan out in detail when, where, and how they intend to act on each of these steps."

The participant's self-reported risk of experiencing alcohol-related problems is measured with the self-report measure "Questionnaire for Alcohol-related Risk Perception" (German "Fragebogen zur Alkoholbezogenen Risikowahrnehmung", FAR; Klepper, Odenwald & Rockstroh (2016). Risikowahrnehmung und Alkoholabhängigkeit. SUCHT, 62 (6), 374-382; DOI 10.1024/0939-5911/a000457).

The interviewers assess the number of standard units of alcohol consumed during month before assessment, i.e. time-frame 1 month

Inclusion Criteria: admitted to treatment at psychotherapy outpatient clinic Exclusion Criteria: alcohol use disorder substance use disorder