OLITA - AN ALTERNATIVE IN THE TREATMENT OF THERAPY-RESISTANT CHRONIC-ALCOHOLICS - FIRST EVALUATION OF A NEW APPROACH

The Outpatient Long-term Intensive Therapy for Alcoholics (OLITA) is a four-step program of care for severely affected chronic alcoholics wh ich, after inpatient detoxification, extends over a total of 2 years. High-frequency short-term individual therapeutic contacts, initially d aily, are followed by a slow tapering of individual contact frequency and resolve in a group session once weekly towards the end of the seco nd abstinent year. Further elements of OLITA are: (a) induction of alc ohol intolerance by the application of aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibito rs; (b) introduction of control factors, i.e. controlled intake of det errent medication and regular urine analysis for alcohol; and (c) allo cation of responsibility to the patient with respect to the overall su ccess of the therapeutic concept including his own physical rehabilita tion. Thus far, 30 male alcoholic patients from two recruitment period s have been treated for 6-26 months with a success rate of 60% abstine nt patients. In conclusion, OLITA, based on the gradual tapering of hi gh-frequency therapeutic contacts, thus far unique among outpatient pr ograms for alcoholics, represents a promising advance in the treatment of therapy-resistant chronic alcoholics.