Teaching Coping Skills to Chronic Alcoholics in a Coeducational Halfway House: I. Assessment of Programme Effects

Summary A study of 104 male and 56 female residents of an alcoholism halfway house investigated the feasibility of programmes for teaching coping skills. In a developmental phase, programmes were created for teaching goal‐setting, interpersonal problem‐solving, and control of drinking tendencies. In a subsequent experimental phase, the problem‐solving strategies were compared to covert sensitization and a discussion control. While most subjects could recite the strategies during programmes, marked decrements in recall were noted within one month of programme completion. No differences were found among the three programmes on any outcome variables at discharge or at 6, 12 or 18 month follow‐ups.