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.