1. There is a limit on examining a reduction in drinking for those who are mild or moderately dependent. 
2. The coding strategies were limited overall. 
3. Distinctions in the relationships between therapists and clients were not noted due to tracking during the sessions.
4. There was a lack of insight into the interventions' effects on patients. 
5. There is no evidence or reporting on drinking treatments' impacts on the patients. 
6. The TFLB, EMA, and feedback may have significantly reduced drinking in all conditions. This could have caused differences in the outcome of the intervention types.

Study Limitations

1. Motivational Interviewing is viewed as limited in its effects, as it is assumed to only be effective in specific populations of people who have AUD. 
2. There needs to be more research on why experienced therapists lead to a reduction in drinking when working with people who have severe drinking issues.
3. There needs to be research on whether or not there are significant changes when giving MI to patients dedicated to changing their behaviors and habits.
4. There needs to be research on the way non-therapeutic strategies of MI could be beneficial to helping those with alcohol disorders.

California Baptist University

The results of the dismantling motivational interviewing (MI) study differed from prior research in two main ways. First, the recruitment strategies varied; the prior study recruited patients from an alcohol clinic, whereas this study used advertisements to solicit problem drinkers. Second, the definitions used to measure continuous alcohol consumption differed. Additionally, prior research has shown MI to be more effective at reducing drinking than skills-based treatment methods.

Dismantling Motivational Interviewing: Differences from Prior Studies

Morgenstern, J., Kuerbis, A., Houser, J., Levak, S., Amrhein, P., Shao, S., & McKay, J. R. (2017). Dismantling motivational interviewing: Effects on initiation of behavior change among problem drinkers seeking treatment. Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors, 31(7), 751–762. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000317

Learn Before

Related

Learn After