Two-year follow-up of behavioral self-control training versus motivational enhancement therapy for the goal of controlled drinking: A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Research on long-term outcomes in individuals with alcohol use disorders receiving treatment for controlled drinking is limited. This study investigated 2-year outcomes in adults with alcohol use disorder who received behavioral treatment aimed at controlled drinking.

Method: A randomized controlled trial including 250 participants (52% male) with assessments at baseline and 12, 26, 52, and 104 weeks at three specialized addiction clinics in Stockholm, Sweden, was conducted. Participants received either behavioral self-control training (five sessions) or motivational enhancement therapy (four sessions), both delivered over 12 weeks. Mixed linear regression models analyzed 2-year outcomes.

Results: No differences were detected between behavioral self-control training and motivational enhancement therapy in the primary outcome of mean weekly alcohol consumption or secondary outcomes at the 2-year, that is, the 104-week, follow-up. A total of 44.1% in behavioral self-control training, and 39.3% in motivational enhancement therapy reported less than 10 weekly standard drinks in both women and men, which is defined as low-risk drinking according to Swedish national guidelines.

Conclusions: Clinically meaningful reductions in alcohol consumption were maintained across the sample at 104 weeks, irrespective of treatment condition. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).