Family-member involvement to initiate and promote treatment of problem drinkers

doi:10.1016/0005-7916(86)90005-4

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

Volume 17, Issue 1, March 1986, Pages 15-21

https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7916(86)90005-4 Get rights and content

Abstract

The present study evaluated a method of teaching distressed family members of problem drinkers how to minimize their own distress, reduce the drinking, increase the motivation of the alcoholic to obtain formal treatment and assist in the treatment program. Twelve concerned family members were given either community-reinforcement counseling or a traditional type of counseling (control group). The reinforcement counseling resulted in more alcoholic persons obtaining treatment than did the traditional type and a greater reduction in drinking before the formal treatment was obtained; drinking was reduced further during the joint treatment of the family members and problem drinkers. These results suggest that the drinking of unmotivated alcoholic persons can be reduced by counseling concerned family members in the use of appropriate reinforcement procedures and can lead to the initiation of formal treatment.

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CRAFT is a behavioural approach designed to simultaneously improve CSO wellbeing and to promote treatment entry of the individual with substance use problems by changing environmental contingencies. However, only five RCTs have been conducted so far, three dealing with drug users (Brigham et al., 2014; Kirby et al., 1999; Meyers et al., 2002) and two with individuals with alcohol problems (Miller et al., 1999; Sisson and Azrin, 1986). Among these, one study examined CRAFT as an adjunct treatment for drug dependents already in treatment (Brigham et al., 2014) and three out of four studies addressing CSOs of initially untreated individuals with alcohol/drug problems used only Al-Anon as comparison group.
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At 3-month f-u, II revealed significant higher ADI engagement rates (40.5%) compared to WL (13.9%); after WL received the CRAFT intervention, engagement rates did not differ between both groups at 6- and 12-month f-u. CSOs in both groups reported significant improvements in terms of mental health and family cohesion after having received the intervention, i.e. II at 3-months f-u and WL at 6-month f-u.
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Family-member involvement to initiate and promote treatment of problem drinkers

Abstract

Behav. Res. Ther.

J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiat.

Behav. Ther.

J. exp. child Psychol.

J. Behav. Ther. & Exp. Psychiat.

Behav. Res. Ther.

Behav. Ther.

How to Use Overcorrection

Job Club Counselor's Manual

Finding a Job

Behavior modification for wives of alcoholics

Q. Jl Stud. Alcohol

Concurrent group psychotherapy of alcoholic patients and their wives

Int. J. Group Psychother.

Concurrent and combined group treatment of chronic alcoholics and their wives

Int. J. Group Psychother.