CHANGES OF SELF-CONCEPT IN ALCOHOL-DEPEND ENT PATIENTS DURING INPATIENT PSYCHOTHERAPY

At the beginning and at the end of a six week treatment programme, the self-concepts of 82 male and 31 female alcoholic inpatients were asse ssed. The Giessen test (a 40 item questionnaire comprising six scales oriented towards psychosocial aspects of personality) was applied. Com pared to normative data from the general population, patients describe d themselves as being more depressed, less controlled, less socially r esponsive and more reserved. During inpatient treatment, patients appr oached the levels of the general population. With regard to control an d depressiveness, however, there were still significant differences at the end of inpatients treatment. Changes on scales relating to interp ersonal contact (social responsiveness, openess) are discussed as spec ific effects of group psychotherapy. Social potency showed a significa nt interaction effect; with women responding better to treatment than men.