In considering this notion of the malleability of personality, there is great potential utility in focusing on treatment efforts that target personality vulnerabilities. In a study conducted by Conrod, Castellanos, & Mackie (2008), the authors investigated how early intervention targeting at-risk personality factors (negative thinking, anxiety sensitivity, impulsivity, and sensation seeking) could defer premature alcohol abuse and binge drinking in at-risk youth. Study participants (median age = 14) were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: personality-targeted interventions that integrated a psycho-educational, motivational interview, and cognitive-behavioral approach; or no intervention. Treatment consisted of two supervised 90-minute sessions, and follow-ups were conducted at 6 and 12 months post-intervention. Conrod and colleagues found that personality-targeted interventions provided a 6-month delay in alcohol misuse and could extend up to 12 months in all aspects of drinking behavior (i.e., increases in quantity and frequency of drinking, binge drinking) compared to controls. Although targeted intervention was shown to be effective in all groups, individuals with high-risk drinking behaviors and at-risk personality characteristics (e.g., sensation seeking drinkers) showed the most robust improvements post- 6 and
