September 25, 2019 | 09:00 – 14:30
Presenters: Sven Andréasson, MD, professor; Sara Wallhed Finn, PhD, clinical psychologist; Sven Wåhlin, MD, general practitioner
This workshop will demonstrate a patient-centred, stepped care approach to interventions for hazardous drinking and alcohol use disorders in non-specialist settings, e.g. primary care. The 15 method is a package of interventions, consisting of three steps: pragmatic case finding, assessment of alcohol use disorders and brief treatment for alcohol dependence. Pragmatic case finding refers to using the patient’s own reason for the consultation as a starting point in identification, adhering to existing clinical practices. Widening the scope of brief interventions in non-specialist settings (primary care) to also include dependence is viewed as necessary for practitioners to raise alcohol questions. In the 15-method simple but effective tools for treating dependence are introduced. The name “the 15 method”, refers to the length of sessions, limited to 15 minutes, and involving patients who score >15 points on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).
In the workshop the 15-method will be demonstrated, including brief presentations, demonstrations, short films and interactive exercises. The workshop will also discuss implementation of the 15-method in clinical practice.