Chemical aversion treatment of alcohol dependence. I. Validity of current criticisms.

Current criticisms of chemical aversion therapy are delineated and their validity assessed. Data pertaining to the effectiveness, acceptability, intrusiveness, availability of alternative treatments, cost-effectiveness, and theoretical foundations of chemical aversion therapy are examined. It is concluded that available evidence supports the efficacy of chemical aversion therapy with respect to production of conditioned aversion to alcohol and treatment outcome.