Patient autonomy in alcohol rehabilitation. I. Literature review.

A brief literature review on alcoholism treatment supports the authors' thesis that the alcohol abuser should be given some autonomy or "say so" in treatment selection. Presenting a variety of treatments as alternatives to the alcoholic may reduce treatment dropout rate, the aversive stigma frequently associated with therapy,and antiherapeutic disruptions while improving community coordination in alcoholism rehabilitation and providing an effective approach in treating the "total life" health of the alcoholic.