What lifestyle interventions should I recommend to patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder?

Lifestyle interventions recommended for patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorder include:

• Motivational interviewing: Use motivational interventions during initial assessment to help patients recognise problems related to drinking, resolve ambivalence, and encourage positive change in a supportive, non-confrontational manner.
• Psychological interventions: Offer cognitive behavioural therapies, behavioural therapies, or social network and environment-based therapies focused on alcohol-related cognitions, behaviours, problems, and social networks. These typically involve weekly sessions over 12 weeks.
• Behavioural couples therapy: For patients with a regular partner willing to participate, behavioural couples therapy focused on alcohol-related problems and their impact on relationships is recommended, unless there is domestic abuse.
• Brief and extended brief interventions: Use evidence-based brief advice based on FRAMES principles (feedback, responsibility, advice, menu, empathy, self-efficacy) to cover harms, barriers, and practical strategies to reduce consumption, with follow-up sessions as needed.
• Goal setting: Agree treatment goals with the patient, prioritising abstinence for most with dependence or significant comorbidity, but considering moderation goals for mild dependence with adequate social support.
• Case management and care planning: Develop an individualised care plan collaboratively, including coordination of multiagency support and monitoring progress.
• Consider social support and comorbidities: Tailor interventions to the patient’s social context and any psychiatric or physical comorbidities, offering more intensive community-based or residential rehabilitation if needed.

These lifestyle interventions aim to reduce alcohol consumption, promote abstinence or moderation, prevent relapse, and improve overall wellbeing and social functioning in patients with alcohol use disorder.

All interventions should be delivered by appropriately trained staff.

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