FACILITATION OF INTERNAL LOCUS OF CONTROL IN ADOLESCENT ALCOHOLICS THROUGH A BRIEF BIOFEEDBACK-ASSISTED AUTOGENIC RELAXATION TRAINING PROCEDURE

The purpose of the study,vas to determine if autogenic relaxation trai ning facilitated through biofeedback promotes an increase in internal levels of locus of control. The participants were residents of two Sou thwest Missouri alcohol treatment centers and ranged in age from 18 to 21 years. Treatment and control groups were compared on their respons es on the Drinking Related Locus Of Control Scale (DRIE) and fingertip temperature pre- and posttraining. The training was effective in teac hing autogenic relaxation as demonstrated by increased fingertip tempe rature for the treatment group posttraining, while no differences, wer e observed for the control group. Most importantly, the treatment grou p was not only significantly more internal in their locus of control a fter training but were also significantly more internal than the contr ol group posttraining. Given that alcoholics are significantly more ex ternal in their locus of control than nonalcoholics, and that an inter nal locus of control implies an individual's belief that he or she has control and is responsible for his or her behavior, autogenic relaxat ion facilitated through biofeedback may be a very important component in therapeutic intervention for adolescent alcoholics. (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science Inc.