Older patients with at-risk and problem drinking patterns: New developments in brief interventions

The relationship between alcohol and some of the most prevalent physical an d mental health issues of older adulthood and the fact that a large percent age (up to 60% in randomized clinical trials) of older at-risk. drinkers ma y need either more intense or innovative approaches to help them cut down o r stop drinking have led to new developments in alcohol screening and brief interventions with older adults. Technological and content innovations are critical elements in providing rapid, effective interventions with a spect rum of alcohol use problems in later adulthood. Both primary and specialty care providers can be trained to provide motivational brief alcohol interve ntions targeted to the older patient. Novel approaches to screening, brief interventions, and brief therapies can be combined with the use of new tech nologies to facilitate implementation in a range of health care settings. T his will give mental health specialty providers additional strategies for a ddressing the complex needs of older at-risk drinkers using a family of eff icient and effective approaches.