Out-patient behaviour therapy in alcoholism: relapse rates after 6 months.

OBJECTIVE

In spite of the increasing interest in out-patient treatment programmes for alcoholics, there still exist only a few experimental studies on this issue. In this still ongoing study the efficacy of different behaviour therapy strategies is to be examined.

METHOD: One hundred and twenty patients were assigned randomly to non-specific supportive therapy or to two forms of behavioural therapy (coping skills training and cognitive therapy). Behavioural treatment comprised 26 weekly sessions; follow-up examinations will take place every 6 months over 2 years.

RESULTS

Patients undergoing behavioural therapy showed less drop-outs and significantly higher rates of abstinence compared with supportive treatment. Nevertheless, statistically significant differences between the two behavioural therapy strategies could not be established so far.

CONCLUSION

Preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of behaviour therapy programmes in the out-patient treatment of alcoholism. Furthermore, they stress the importance of professional psychiatric and psychotherapeutic engagement in the field of addiction.