Citation

Holt LJ, O'Malley SS, Rounsaville BJ, Ball SA. Am. J. Drug Alcohol Abuse 2009; 35(3): 117-122.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, USA. Laura.Holt@trincoll.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00952990802585398

PMID

19462293

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psychological disorders are common among driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenders; thus, a DWI arrest may serve as an important opportunity for further screening and subsequent treatment. OBJECTIVES: The current study examined the extent to which mild to moderate pretreatment depressive symptoms, as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), could predict intervention outcomes in 284 first-time DWI offenders. METHODS: Participants were given drinking-related and psychosocial assessments at the beginning and end of a 10-week intervention and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS: After the intervention and at both follow-ups, all participants reported declines in depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, and negative drinking consequences and higher self-efficacy to avoid high-risk drinking. It was notable, however, that offenders with depressive symptoms reported more drinking-related consequences and lower self-efficacy at all time points, but greater motivation to change their drinking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that offenders with depressive symptoms have more severe symptomatology than nondepressed offenders but may be more amenable to changing their drinking. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: The BDI may be a useful screening tool for determining which offenders are in need of an intervention following a DWI arrest.

Language: en