Group Motivational Interviewing (GMI) For Homeless Veterans In VA Services

Participants randomized to Group Motivational Interviewing (GMI) will receive four structured, back-to-back, 90-minute sessions consistent with the central principles and spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI). GMI, which is based on a manualized protocol, is specifically designed for dually diagnosed Veterans. A focus of the intervention creates awareness of the relationship between the substance use and co-existing psychiatric disorder and the importance of treating both.

"Control Treatment Condition (CT): Participants in CT will attend four sessions equal in time and length to GMI (i.e., 90 minutes) and will involve the following topics: A popular 'box activity': participants will anonymously write evocative questions on slips of paper involving their personal concerns that are placed in a box and, when randomly selected, opened for group discussion (e.g., How do I talk to my family about my alcohol problem?), money management with feedback (2 sessions), and cooking-home maintenance."