Examining the impact of a 12-week intervention on alcohol drinkers: Changes in negative and positive affect - A single arm pilot clinical trial

Background There has been a significant global increase in alcohol misuse and alcohol use disorder (AUD), with a notable lack of effective interventions, particularly for young adults. Among this group, young adults who experience fluctuations in negative and positive affect are more likely to use alcohol as a maladaptive coping strategy. Objectives This study aimed to identify the impact of a 12-week intervention among young adults who consume alcohol, focusing specifically on the alterations in negative and positive affect. Methods This was a single-arm pilot clinical trial, where all participants received an integrated contingency management and problem-solving therapy (CM-PST), consisting of eight individual sessions over 12 weeks. Participants were young adults aged 18 to 24 with mild, moderate, or severe AUD ( n = 20). Participants were interviewed using Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule-5 (AUDADIS-5) to score presence and severity of AUD. In addition, they completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) at baseline and 3-months post intervention. Results The mean age of the participants was 21.35 years ( SD = 2.18), ranging from 18 to 24 years. While there was no statistically significant increase in positive affect (e.g., happiness and contentment) among participants post-intervention, there was a significant reduction in negative affect (e.g., anxiety and depression) after the intervention. Conclusions Our study supports the hypothesis that integrated CM-PST interventions can yield significant improvements in emotional well-being. Further research could explore the long-term effects of such interventions and identify specific mechanisms contributing to these positive outcomes.