1. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University
family-involved interventions to reduce co-occurring risky alcohol use and mental health problems in young people aged years: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Emma Geijer-Simpson, Dr Ruth McGovern, Dr Raghu Lingam, Dr Paul McArdle and Professor Eileen Kaner
Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University

2. Background
Aim
To summarise current evidence on effective family-involved interventions to prevent co-occurring risky alcohol use and mental health problems that can be delivered to young people aged years.
Why?
Up to 75% of young people engaging in alcohol and
substance use also have a co-existing mental health problem.
Family-related factors have emerged as the strongest
and most consistent risk and protective factor.
The effectiveness of family-involved interventions, targeting this population group, has not been reviewed across all levels of prevention.

3. Method 9076 references identified
265 papers retrieved for full paper review
25 papers reporting on 18 unique trials
17 RCT’s +1 quasi experimental trial
Exclusion criteria:
-not a trial -parent targeted intervention -based on age of adolescent participants -Not reporting on both mental health and substance use measures
The following databases were searched from their inception date until May 2016: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, ASSIA and Embase. Grey literature was also searched alongside relevant journals. No time or language restrictions were applied. We included randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental trials evaluating family involved interventions aimed at preventing or reducing co-occurring mental health difficulties and alcohol use in young people aged Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts and full papers. Two reviewers will continue to independently extract the data against pre-set inclusion and exclusion criteria and appraise the methodological quality of studies.

4. Main Findings Outcomes All conducted in the USA
Size of trials range from
9 trials target specific ethnic groups or population groups
13 trials report on theory base
Outcomes
12 trials report on a separate alcohol use outcomes
6 trials conflate alcohol and substance use outcomes
17 trials report significant results
6 trials report on significant results for both mental health and alcohol/substance use outcomes

5. Main Findings Universal Prevention (Primary prevention) - 3 trials
SAAFt, Parents who
care, Bridges Puentes
sessions
Delivered by group/
workshop leaders
Conducted in schools
and community
facilities
Targeted Prevention
(Secondary prevention)
5 trials
- BSFT, Familias Unidas, Project Hope
4-20 sessions
Delivered by therapists, clinicians and facilitators
Conducted at home or a
place convenient to the
family
Treatment (Tertiary prevention)
Trials + 2 multilevel trials
MST,CBT,BSFT,MDFT,EBFT,
Family Therapy
sessions
Delivered by therapists
and mental health
professionals
Delivered in psychiatric
hospitals, youths natural
environment and outpatient
clinical settings

6. Implications of current findings
Healthcare and cultural differences may impact on generalisability to the UK.
Target specific population groups
Comparison interventions are often active interventions.
The majority of the interventions are not designed to target
co-occurring alcohol use and mental health problems
Impact
To inform the development of a family-involved preventative intervention
To help bridge the gap between the fields of mental health and alcohol research