Taylor PJ, Robling M, Playle R, et al. - In view of the global concerns concerning the reduction in alcohol misuse by male prisoners and the possibility of control of drinking behavior to be a useful target for intervention in this population and locus of control to be a causal factor in this, researchers here examined the effect of a clinical psychologist-facilitated group intervention on male prisoners’ locus of control of drinking behavior. They conducted a two-arm, single-site, open, randomized controlled trial at a category B, local training prison in South Wales, housing nearly 800 mostly sentenced men. They allocated a total of 119 to the intervention arm and 119 to the control arm; of these, 104 and 87, respectively, completed the post randomization baseline interview and 68 and 60 completed a second interview about 4 weeks later, respectively, following intervention or treatment as usual alone. The intervention comprised nine clinical psychologist-facilitated groups in the prison for over 3 weeks. Per session, participants range was 1-7, with 3-5 most usual. Outcomes assessed were Locus of Control of Behaviour and the mental state generally (Comprehensive Psychiatric Rating Scale) and specifically (Beck Depression Inventory/BDI). Outcomes revealed achievement of no statistically significant effect on sense of control of drinking behavior among men with preimprisonment alcohol misuse serving under two years in a South Wales prison in correlation with a clinical psychologist-facilitated group intervention. The study proved coterminous, however, with 40% prison staff cuts which appear likely to have added to the high loss of group sessions and likely overwhelmed any treatment effect. No effect of intervention completion failures was observed, so they suggest repeating the trial when prison climate improves.