Stepped alcohol treatment via telehealth reduces alcohol use

01 Jul 2026, 03:00 · Medical Xpress

by Lori Solomon

edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Andrew Zinin

Gaby Clark

Scientific Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process

Andrew Zinin

Chief Editor

Meet our editorial team
Behind our editorial process Editors' notes

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

reputable news agency

proofread

The GIST Add as preferred source

Stepped alcohol treatment (SAT) offered via telehealth helps people with chronic liver disease (CLD) reduce alcohol consumption, according to a study published online June 24 in Hepatology.

Derek D. Satre, Ph.D., from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and colleagues evaluated the efficacy of telehealth SAT, which consisted of three motivational interviewing sessions followed by addiction medicine referral if no drinking reduction at month 3. One hundred fifty-seven adults with CLD and unhealthy alcohol use (>7 drinks/week or ≥4/day for women; >14/week or ≥5/day for men; or heavy episodic drinking) were randomly assigned to SAT (81 participants) or usual care (76 participants).

The researchers found that SAT had no difference in percentage of alcohol use below moderate level (primary outcome) versus usual care. However, SAT had greater reduction in drinks/week from baseline to month 3 and month 6 (estimates, −0.66 and −0.67, respectively) (secondary outcome). Compared to usual care, the six-month effect of SAT on alcohol use reduction remained significant when controlling for covariates. The 30-day abstinence rates were 29% for SAT and 18% for usual care at month 6. There was a positive association between baseline motivation to reduce alcohol use and treatment response.

"Integrated alcohol interventions remain rarely implemented in liver clinics," study senior author Mandana Khalili, M.D., also from UCSF, said in a statement. "This treatment gap is particularly serious given that current guidelines advise offering these interventions to all patients with CLD."

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries.

Publication details

Derek D. Satre et al, A randomized controlled trial of stepped treatment to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in patients with chronic liver disease, Hepatology (2026). DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000001796

Journal information: Hepatology

Key medical concepts

TelehealthMotivational Interviewing

Clinical categories

GastroenterologyCommon illnesses & Prevention Who's behind this story?

Gaby Clark

MA in English, copy editor since 2021 with experience in higher education and health content. Dedicated to trustworthy science news. Full profile →

Andrew Zinin

Master's in physics with research experience. Long-time science news enthusiast. Plays key role in Science X's editorial success. Full profile →

Citation: Stepped alcohol treatment via telehealth reduces alcohol use (2026, June 30) retrieved 1 July 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-alcohol-treatment-telehealth.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.